Iraq: Thousands of Sadr supporters stage Baghdad protests

By Ali Jawad

BAGHDAD

Thousands of supporters of Iraqi Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr held protests on Friday at the entrance of Baghdad’s Green Zone, a central area that houses a number of critical government buildings.
Protesters said they came from across the country to press for accelerating anti-corruption reforms. A senior police officer told Anadolu Agency there were no incidents of violence on Friday.
The influential Shia leader wants Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi to reshuffle his cabinet and form a “technocrat” government.
Last month, Sadr gave Abadi a 45-day deadline to present the names of technocrats for a new government and threatened to storm the Green Zone if his demands were not met.