Political Tensions Still High In Baghdad After The Green Zone And Parliament Was Stormed And Occupied By Shiite Protestors

Reuters: Sadr followers dig in inside Baghdad's Green Zone, political crisis deepens

Hundreds of supporters of Shi'ite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr stormed parliament inside Baghdad's Green Zone on Saturday and camped out nearby after Sadr denounced politicians' failure to reform a political quota system blamed for rampant corruption.

The protesters, who had gathered outside the heavily fortified central district housing government buildings and many foreign embassies, crossed a bridge over the Tigris River chanting: "The cowards ran away!" in apparent reference to departing lawmakers.

The initial breach was mostly peaceful, but around sunset security forces fired teargas and bullets into the air in an effort to stop more protesters from entering. Around a dozen people were wounded, police sources said.

A United Nations spokesman and Western diplomats said their compounds inside the Green Zone were locked down. A U.S. embassy spokesman denied reports of evacuation.

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More News On The Political Crisis In Baghdad

Iraqi prime minister orders arrest of troublemaking protesters -- Washington Post
Iraqi PM calls for arrest of parliament protesters -- Al Jazeera
Protesters in Green Zone, Iraq PM calls for punishment of rioters -- AFP
Iraq PM Orders Arrests After Breach of Baghdad's Green Zone -- NBC/AP
Iraq Protests Update: Supporters Of Iraqi Shiite Cleric Camp Outside Parliament, PM Calls For Rioters To Be Punished -- IBTimes
Iraq Shia protesters camp out after storming parliament -- BBC
Security forces and protesters clash as Abadi meets with political leaders -- Rudaw