Curfew set in Iraq as deadly clashes erupt after Shia cleric quits politics

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

#Curfew #set #Iraq #deadly #clashes #erupt #Shia #cleric #quits #politics https://www.globalcourant.com/curfew-set-in-iraq-as-deadly-clashes-erupt-after-shia-cleric-quits-politics/?feed_id=17498&_unique_id=630d09891d5a5

Fresh clashes erupt in Guinea despite ban on protests

Protesters in capital Conakry suburbs burn tyres, overturn rubbish bins and throw stones at police vehicles as anger grows against junta and its handling of plans to return to democracy.

FNDC, an influential political coalition, called for the demonstrations to denounce the junta's "unilateral management" of the return to civilian rule (AFP)

Fresh clashes between protesters and security forces have erupted in Conakry despite a ban by the junta on demonstrations amid discontent with the regime's planning to transition back to democracy.

The latest clashes came after protests against Guinea's junta and its handling of plans to return to democracy brought the capital to a standstill on Thursday, with organisers claiming that one person was killed.

Protesters in the Conakry suburbs on Friday burned tyres, overturned rubbish bins and threw stones at police vehicles with officers responding with teargas, according to an AFP news agency journalist.

Thursday's protest took place ahead of comments by the chair of a regional bloc who claimed to have persuaded the junta to shorten its timeline for a return to democracy. The junta has not confirmed his comments.

The National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (FNDC), an influential political coalition, called for the demonstrations to denounce the junta's "unilateral management" of the return to civilian rule after it seized power in 2021.

READ MORE: ECOWAS ‘convinces’ Guinea to two-year transition of power

Rough return to democracy

A junta led by Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, which overthrew president Alpha Conde in September last year, has pledged to hand over power to elected civilians within three years. 

But regional powers have rejected this timeline, with Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspending Guinea after the coup.

Speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron at a briefing in Bissau on Thursday, the ECOWAS regional bloc chair Umaro Sissoco Embalo said he had recently convinced Guinea's junta to hasten the return to democracy.

"I was in Conakry with the president of the commission (of ECOWAS) to make the military junta understand the decision of the summit of heads of state that the transition cannot exceed 24 months", Embalo said.

"They had proposed 36 months, but we succeeded in convincing them," he added.

But Ousmane Gaoual Diallo, a Guinean minister and spokesperson for the transitional government, told AFP that "neither the government nor the presidency confirms this information about the duration of the transition in Guinea".

READ MORE: Guinea junta leader announces 39-month transition period

Source: AFP

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/fresh-clashes-erupt-in-guinea-despite-ban-on-protests/?feed_id=4096&_unique_id=62e49808e8c5c