Influential Shia cleric Muqtada After announcing his retirement from politics, Sadr started a hunger strike in Iraq “until the violence is over” after a day of violent demonstrations.
Hassan al Azari, one of the leaders of the Sadr movement, said, “Sir, he is declaring that he will go on a hunger strike until the violence and use of weapons ends. Because expelling the corrupt does not give anyone a reason to use violence against anyone.” announced soon on Facebook.
The spokesperson said following fierce gunfights around Baghdad’s Green Zone, a heavily patrolled area that houses the Presidential Palace and the Government House and is today occupied by pro-Sadr protesters. of the parliament.
A source from the Baghdad Operation Command told EFE, on condition of anonymity, that there were clashes between the security forces and the Saraya al Salam militia near the Green Zone between machine gun fire and RPG-7 anti-tank rocket launchers (Peace Brigades). ), affiliated with Sadr.
These clashes have resulted in injuries between the two sides, but no casualties so far, according to the source.
Another source from the Ministry of Interior told EFE that the death toll from gunfire during Monday’s demonstrations had risen to 12, with the number of injured “in the tens”.
After Sadr’s announcement that he would quit politics, tens of thousands of followers of clerics took to the streets in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities, raiding the presidential and government palace in the capital.
Iraqi authorities declared a curfew in Baghdad, which came into effect at 15:30 local time and then spread across the country from 19:00, but demonstrations and clashes still continued.
source: Noticias
