Supporters of radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr storm Iraq's parliament again

• Wide Angle Elections in Iraq under the shadow of the withdrawal from Afghanistan

The supporters of the Shiite leader

have occupied the Iraqi parliament this Saturday, after entering the so-called green zone of

, the most protected area of ​​the capital that houses government institutions and embassies, an AFP photographer has confirmed.

Demonstrators waved Iraqi flags and images of Sadr inside the building, while thousands protested outside, amid a deep political crisis that has rocked

since elections in October.

Sadr's supporters gathered this Saturday in the center of

to denounce the candidacy of the rival political party for the post of prime minister,

, considered close to the former head of government,

.

In anticipation of the protest, law enforcement officials closed several major roads in the capital that lead to the green zone.

Despite that, they were forced to fire tear gas and water cannons near the area.

At least 26 protesters have been injured, either by gas or after falling from tall concrete barriers erected to hinder their progress, and 17 other police officers have been hit with stones thrown by protesters, according to law enforcement.

On Wednesday, thousands of Sadrist protesters stormed the district and briefly occupied parliament to reject the candidacy of

, a 52-year-old former minister and provincial governor.

Iraq

is a multi-faith country in which the same figures have dominated public life since 2003, when President

fell .

The political stalemate is complete ten months after the legislative elections in October 2021. Since then, the negotiations to form a government and appoint a prime minister have not advanced.

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