Protests in Iraq continue with riots

Iraqi Shiite political leader Muqtada al-Sadr on the morning of August 30 called on his supporters to stop protests in the “green zone” of Baghdad, where government offices and embassies are located, and leave it. Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazemi thanked al-Sadr for his call. Al-Sadr also confirmed his decision to withdraw from politics, which provoked riots with the seizure of government buildings and the death of 30 people on the night of August 30, according to Al-Jazeera.

On August 29, when al-Sadr announced his retirement from politics, hundreds of his supporters broke into the Palace of the Republic, where the offices of the president and prime minister are located. The Sadrists defeated several dozen headquarters of their political opponents. The American embassy located in the “green zone” was subjected to mortar fire. The Iraqi authorities declared a curfew and martial law throughout the country, sent troops to Baghdad, but the Saraya al-Salam (Peace Brigades) associated with al-Sadr also entered the green zone. Protests, turning into armed clashes, continued both in the capital and in several other regions of the country.