President Barham Saleh says early legislative elections would be in line with the aspirations of the Iraqi people and would guarantee political and social stability.
President Saleh spoke in Baghdad hours after supporters of al Sadr withdrew from Baghdad's Green Zone following nearly 24 hours of clashes.
(AFP PHOTO / HO / IRAQI PRESIDENCY)
Iraqi President Barham Saleh has encouraged early legislative elections to settle a political crisis that escalated into deadly clashes this week, killing dozens and wounding hundreds more.
"Holding new, early elections in accordance with a national consensus represents an exit from the stifling crisis," Saleh said in a speech on Tuesday.
"It guarantees political and social stability and responds to the aspirations of the Iraqi people".
Early elections, less than a year after the last polls, have been a key demand of Shia Muslim cleric Muqtada al Sadr, whose supporters battled state security forces and Shia factions backed by neighbouring Iran in violence that started on Monday.
Thirty Sadr supporters were shot dead and at least 570 others were injured after protesters stormed the government palace following their leader's announcement that he was quitting politics.
President Saleh spoke hours after supporters of Sadr withdrew from Baghdad's Green Zone following the nearly 24 hours of clashes.
READ MORE: Iraq's cleric Muqtada al Sadr quits politics
Iraq has been in political deadlock since parliamentary elections in October. Here's an explainer on two main Shia groups who are competing for power: pic.twitter.com/WbsuHvZjFA
Months of political paralysis
Sadr and his supporters have spearheaded calls for the dissolution of parliament and new legislative elections following months of political paralysis.
Under the constitution, parliament can only be dissolved by an absolute majority vote in the house, following a request by one-third of deputies or by the prime minister with the approval of the president.
Sadr's bloc emerged from last October's election as the biggest in the legislature, with 73 seats, but far short of a majority.
Since then, the country has been mired in political deadlock due to disagreement between Shia factions over forming a coalition.
In June, his lawmakers quit in a bid to break the gridlock.
Sadr's supporters had for weeks been staging a sit-in outside Iraq's parliament, after storming the legislature's interior on July 30.
READ MORE:Situation tense in Iraq as death toll from violent clashes mounts
Source: AFP
Shia cleric Muqtada al Sadr announced he would withdraws from politics, prompting hundreds of protesters to storm the Republican Palace and sparking clashes with security forces in which 12 people were killed.
Iraqi security forces fired to disperse pro-Sadr protesters from the vicinity of the Republican Palace, where the government is seated.
(AA)
At least twelve supporters of Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al Sadr have been killed and 85 others wounded after clashes broke out in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone, medics say.
The announcement raises an earlier toll of two protesters killed and 22 others wounded in Monday's clashes with supporters of the country's rival faction.
Iraqi security forces fired to disperse pro-Sadr protesters from the vicinity of the Republican Palace, where the government is seated in the International Baghdad District, according to local media.
Iraq’s Joint Operations Command declared a nationwide curfew, which will come into effect at 1600 GMT (7:00 pm local time) until further notice, the command said.
The command had earlier imposed curfew in the capital Baghdad at 1230 GMT (3:30pm local time).
The protests came hours after al Sadr announced his total withdrawal from politics amid a months-long political crisis in the country.
For his part, Prime Minister Mustafa al Kadhimi suspended Cabinet sessions until further notice, the state news agency INA reported citing a government statement.
READ MORE:Iraq's cleric Muqtada al Sadr quits politics
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wikO8vhpntQ[/embed]
Political deadlock
Protests also broke out in the Shia-majority southern provinces with al Sadr’s supporters burning tires and blocking roads in the oil-rich province of Basra and hundreds demonstrating outside the governorate building in Missan.
The United States said on Monday that unrest in Iraq was "disturbing" and called for "dialogue" to ease the country's political problems.
White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that Washington sees no need to evacuate staff in its Iraqi embassy at this time.
Iraq’s government has been deadlocked since al Sadr’s party won the largest share of seats in October parliamentary elections but not enough to secure a majority government.
His refusal to negotiate with his Iran-backed Shia rivals and subsequent exit from the talks has catapulted the country into political uncertainty and volatility amid intensifying intra-Shia disputes.
Al Sadr has called for the dissolution of parliament and early elections without the participation of Iran-backed groups, which he sees as responsible for the status quo.
READ MORE:Iraq’s top judicial body suspends activities as Sadr supporters protest
Source: TRTWorld and agencies
According to IRNA's report today (Sunday), according to the Iraqi media, the procession of the lovers of Imam Hussein and the Imams of Athar (AS) has started, especially for the Arbaeen ceremony of Hussein (AS), with the slogan "From the sea to the sea" (from the sea to the slaughterhouse). .
This march is the biggest march in Iraq, which is held every year under the supervision of Al-Hashd al-Shaabi organization from Bandar Faw in the southernmost point of Iraq to the holy city of Karbala.
This great march is a gift to all the martyrs, and at the head of them are the martyrs of Lieutenant General Haj Qassem Soleimani and Haj Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, the commanders of the victory operation against the ISIS terrorist group.
In this march, a route of 600 kilometers from Ras al-Bisheh area in Basra province to Karbala Ma'ali will be covered by carrying the biggest flag of Imam Hussain (AS).
Iraqi citizens have started walking from different regions of the country to Karbala Ma'ali to participate in the Arbaeen Hosseini (PBUH) ceremony, and senior Iraqi commanders have decided to deploy 20,000 military and security forces, thermal cameras and drones as part of the security plan. The security of Hosseini (PBUH) pilgrims has been announced in this country.
In an interview with IRNA's government reporter, Issa Zarepour, in response to some rumors about the implementation of the decree on the immunity of cyberspace, said: There is no such decree that will be implemented or not, but some people are trying to play with these words and fuel rumors. They do and eat bread from it.
The Minister of Communications and Information Technology said about the limitation of the amount of internet for journalists despite the wide range of news work and especially photojournalism: In addition to the operators who give journalists an internet package, we will add another package this year.
Zarepour said about the internet of Arbaeen pilgrims: A special Arbaeen committee has been formed to improve the internet infrastructure from the country to the border as well as inside Iraq, and therefore this year we will see the improvement of the quality of the Internet for Hosseini Arbaeen pilgrims inside the border of Iraq.
He continued: We are working to increase roaming and improve the quality of the Internet inside the border of Iraq, and we are also trying to provide new services to the people in the field of infrastructure and platforms.
In response to the question of whether the pilgrims are still going to use Arab SIM cards to communicate with their families, the Minister of Communications and Information Technology said: This issue is also being worked on so that people can communicate using their SIM cards and It will be notified as soon as this is done.
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