- Title: WRAP: Sadr calls on supporters to end Baghdad protests after violent clashes
- Date: 30th August 2022
- Summary: BAGHDAD, IRAQ (AUGUST 30, 2022) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MAN FIRING MACHINE GUN OVER RAZOR WIRE-TOPPED WALL (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SUPPORTER OF MOQTADA AL-SADR FROM, AHMED, SAYING: "We respect the religious reference (referring to Shi'ite Muslim cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani), but we want them to put out a fatwa (religious decree) to stop violence - just as they released a fatwa that pushed these men to fight. I am injured, my foot was injured yesterday, why? We are only here to ask for a good life, to ask for schools for our children, access to healthcare, we want dignity." VARIOUS OF SADR SUPPORTERS CHANTING CHARRED EXTERIOR OF BADR ORGANISATION OFFICES IN BAGHDAD'S SADR CITY FIRE SMOULDERING INSIDE / DAMAGED EXTERIOR
- Embargoed: 13th September 2022 14:04
- Keywords: al-sadr baghdad fighting iraq protests sadr unrest violence
- Location: BAGHDAD AND NAJAF, IRAQ
- City: BAGHDAD AND NAJAF, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Middle East,Civil Unrest,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA004148430082022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A WRAP AND CONTAINS NOW NEW MATERIAL
EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES OF WOUNDED PEOPLE
PART AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING
Iraq's powerful cleric Moqtada al-Sadr ordered his followers to end their protests in central Baghdad on Tuesday (August 30), easing a confrontation which led to the deadliest violence in the Iraqi capital in years.
Apologising to Iraqis after 22 people were killed in clashes between an armed group loyal to him and rival Shi'ite Muslim factions backed by Iran, Sadr condemned the fighting and gave his own followers one hour to disperse.
As the deadline passed at around 2 p.m. (1100 GMT), Sadr's followers could be seen beginning to leave the area in the fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad where government offices are located and where they had occupied parliament for weeks.
Monday's (August 29) clashes between rival factions of Iraq's Shi'ite Muslim majority follow 10 months of political deadlock since Iraq's October parliamentary election, which have raised fears of escalating unrest.
Sadr emerged as the main winner in the election but failed in his efforts to form a government with Sunni Muslim Arab and Kurdish parties, excluding the Iran-backed Shi'ite groups.
This week's violence erupted after Sadr said he was withdrawing from all political activity - a decision he said was in response to the failure of other Shi'ite leaders and parties to reform a corrupt and decaying governing system.
(Production: Thomas Holdstock) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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