Iraq – Iraq on edge after nearly thirty killed in political violence

Location: Baghdad, Iraq

Language: Arabic

Duration: 00:04:20

Voice: Natural

Source: A24 Baghdad

Restriction: A24 subscribers

Date: 30/08/2022

Storyline:

Violence has killed at least twenty-five people and injured 380 others amid local and international calls for calm and a return to dialogue.

Supporters of the Sadrist movement and other militant factions continued to clash with security forces at government buildings in Baghdad’s Green Zone.

They used various weapons, including RPG launchers as authorities intensified measures to control the situation. Violence has killed at least twenty-five people and injured 380 others amid local and international calls for calm and a return to dialogue.

Yesterday, authorities imposed a curfew after Al-Sadr supporters stormed several government institutions, including the Republican Palace, hours after he announced his retirement from political life.

In an interview with A24, political analyst Suhad Al-Shammari  said that al-Sadr retired after losing hope in his project to to form a majority government, dissolve parliament and hold early elections.

Demonstrators interviewed by A24 expressed their shock at the violence they experienced during what they called peaceful protests.

Shells hit Several targets in the Green Zone, including the house of former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who reportedly left his home yesterday by helicopter.

Security Sources also reported that most officials and politicians left the Green Zone, including presidents, government, and parliament. Eyestwinttes reported seeing reconnaissance planes and intensive reinforcements at the American and British embassies and the European Union mission.

 Shot list:

• Soundbite (Suhad Al-Shammari – Political Analyst):

“Muqtada al-Sadr’s retirement from political life in Iraq is the beginning of a new political phase that may lead to a declaration of civil disobedience if al Sadr’s project, which calls for a new political stage to start reform, is not accepted.”

• Soundbite (Wathiq Al Jabri – Political Analyst):

“Muqtada al-Sadr retired after several failed attempts, including forming a majority government and using popular pressure to storm parliament. Al-Sadr’s steps drew local and international criticism, especially after the demonstration in the Judicial Council. Therefore, there was a need to return to dialogue, but the Sadrist movement rejected this because they felt that it was a dead end and they had to withdraw from politics. It is his habit that every time he reaches a dead end, he begins to leave political life.”

• Soundbite (A protester in front of the green zone):

“Although we are peaceful protesters, they are targeting us with snipers stationed on the Presidential Bridge. We will continue until the government is overthrown.”

• Soundbite (A protester in front of the green zone):

“People took to the streets to protest the situation. Is it logical to kill them? People came out to express their oppression. They should have protected their own people and laid down their arms. They should do what the Egyptian army did, not kill cousins ​​and brothers. We are the ones who stood against ISIS and brought the men of power to their seats. On the other hand, they killed yesterday those who were raising the Iraqi flag with snipers. They were peaceful and did not carry weapons. If we start a revolution, none of the rulers will remain in their positions, but we do not want bloodshed, we want them to stand with us, with the people, and lay down their arms. You are our brothers; we do not want you to kill us. We raise the flags of our homeland, why they are killing us?”