- 30 Aug 2022 - 18:11(18:11 GMT)
List of key events to the violence in Iraq
Thirty people have been killed in Baghdad after fighting between supporters and rivals of Muqtada al-Sadr, while hundreds have been wounded.
Click here for a list of key events that took place so far.
- 30 Aug 2022 - 18:03(18:03 GMT)
Iraq president encourages early elections to end crisis
Iraqi President Barham Saleh has encouraged early legislative elections to settle the current political crisis.
“Holding new, early elections in accordance with a national consensus represents an exit from the stifling crisis,” Saleh said in a speech, arguing that such a step “guarantees political and social stability and responds to the aspirations of the Iraqi people”.
- 30 Aug 2022 - 17:55(17:55 GMT)
What led to the fighting in Baghdad: A timeline
The latest violence in the Iraqi capital started and ended after comments from al-Sadr, an influential voice in Iraq for 20 years.
Click here for a timeline of key events that preceded the most recent unrest.
- 30 Aug 2022 - 17:50(17:50 GMT)
Sadrists ‘big part of the current crisis in Iraq’: Analyst
Sarkawt Shamsulddin, a former Iraqi member of parliament, said as long as there are “fundamental problems” and “corruption” in Iraq, there will always be grievances among the people, regardless of their affiliations.
“There are wider calls in Iraq for constitutional reforms … and there are also calls for getting Iraq back on track economically,” Shamsulddin told Al Jazeera.
“The only problem preventing Iraqis from getting a prosperous life is the political and ruling elite,” he said.
“Sadrists have been occupying over 300 positions in senior political positions in the government,” he said “They are a big part of the current crisis in Iraq.”
- 30 Aug 2022 - 15:39(15:39 GMT)
Al-Sadr wants to show he ‘has control over his crowd’: Analyst
International Crisis Group’s Iraq analyst Lahib Higel said al-Sadr “clearly wants to show his rivals that he has control over his crowd” by ordering them into the streets and back when things escalate too far.
Al-Sadr’s statement was also “indicative in commanding the security forces to show restraint towards the protesters and make sure not to spill any Iraqi blood to the extent possible,” Higel told Al Jazeera.
“For now, Sadr’s statement was quite clear indicating that he does not want further escalation.”
Elections may “reset the current political impasse”, but will “not solve the deep-rooted political issue that was installed in Iraq post-2003”, Higel said.
“The issue is that we have too many political actors fighting for the same pieces of the pie, and they are no longer able to distribute these positions within the state institutions as they have done in the past.”
- 30 Aug 2022 - 15:24(15:24 GMT)
Iran says borders with Iraq open, but urges caution
Authorities in Iran have announced that borders to neighbouring Iraq reopened, but urged citizens to remain cautious amid a fragile calm.
Local officials said that the Mehran, Qasr-e Shirin and Chazabeh land border crossings have been reopened on Tuesday afternoon.
Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi urged travellers who were not already on their way to the crossings to “wait one more day” so Iranian authorities can guarantee their safety and security.
Vahidi added that flights to Iraq have also resumed.
- 30 Aug 2022 - 14:10(14:10 GMT)
Al-Sadr supporters withdraw from Green Zone: Al Jazeera correspondent
Things are rapidly changing inside Baghdad’s Green Zone, where al-Sadr supporters had camped out for more than a month outside parliament.
Al Jazeera’s Mahmoud Abdelwahed, reporting from the vicinity of parliament, said al-Sadr supporters have started upon his instructions, “dismantling tents they’ve set up for over a month now”.
“We have been speaking to some of them, they say … they’re now following instructions from their leader, they’re leaving the area upon his request – but that does not mean that they cannot return,” Abdelwahed said.
“They say that it is possible for them to return at any time, upon the request or instructions from their leader Muqtada al-Sadr,” he said, adding that the move is a kind of “a de-escalation” following the latest violence.
- 30 Aug 2022 - 12:08(12:08 GMT)
Al-Sadr speech ‘laughable’: analyst
Ruba Ali al-Hassani, a post-doctoral research assistant at Lancaster University, said she was not surprised to hear Muqtada al-Sadr ordering his supporters to withdraw from the Green Zone.
“The speech was to an extent laughable because he keeps on denying his responsibility in everything that has transpired over the last 24 hours,” al-Hassani told Al Jazeera, speaking from Manchester.
“We all know that he is at the heart of the matter. His resignation triggered the developments of took the past 24 hours and his supporters blindly follow him.”
Al-Sadr has managed to demonstrate again and again what al-Hassani called the “psychological tool” of his leverage over his peers.
“He is unpredictable to a great extent which gives him power over his counterparts,” she said.
- 30 Aug 2022 - 11:50(11:50 GMT)
Iraq PM, UN welcome Muqtada al-Sadr’s call to end protests
Iraq’s caretaker Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi has hailed Muqtada al-Sadr as a patriot for calling on his supporters to end their protest and refrain from the violence that has shaken the capital Baghdad.
Sadr’s call to end the bloodshed placed a “moral duty” on all Iraqis to engage in dialogue, the prime minister said on Twitter.
“His Eminence Muqtada Al-Sadr’s call to stop violence is the epitome of patriotism and respect to the sanctity of Iraqi blood,” Kadhimi wrote.
“His speech emplaces national and moral duty upon all to protect Iraq and stop political escalation and violence and, to immediately engage in dialogue.”
His Eminence Muqtada Al-Sadr’s call to stop violence is the epitome of patriotism and respect to the sanctity of Iraqi blood.
His speech emplaces national and moral duty upon all to protect Iraq and stop political escalation and violence and, to immediately engage in dialogue.— Mustafa Al-Kadhimi مصطفى الكاظمي (@MAKadhimi) August 30, 2022
The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) also welcomed al-Sadr’s call for protesters to leave the Green Zone.
“UNAMI welcomes the most recent moderate declaration by Sayed Muqtada al-Sadr. As stated yesterday: restraint and calm are necessary for reason to prevail,” the UN mission tweeted.
UNAMI welcomes the most recent moderate declaration by Sayed Muqtada al-Sadr. As stated yesterday: restraint and calm are necessary for reason to prevail. pic.twitter.com/Amcy6YFf1c
— UNAMI (@UNIraq) August 30, 2022
- 30 Aug 2022 - 11:43(11:43 GMT)
Crisis is not fully over, says Al Jazeera’s bureau chief
Walid Ibrahim, the head of Al Jazeera’s bureau in Baghdad, said it is premature to say that Iraq’s political impasse is now over.
“We cannot say that the crisis is fully ended,” he said. “We will wait for the next steps of the other political parties, especially those that belong to the Coordination Framework and who were involved in unprecedented violence with al-Sadr supporters.”
Nothing will change without political solutions, he added.
TV correspondent Mahmoud Abdelwahed said that despite the very rapid change on the ground in the aftermath of Muqtada al-Sadr’s speech, it remains to be seen whether that will translate to the political arena.
“We know that the political rivalries continue. There are no signs of efforts or mediation between the rival factions to bridge the political gap between them,” he said.
- 30 Aug 2022 - 11:16(11:16 GMT)
Could Iraq slide into civil war?
Mired in political deadlock, Iraq is now embroiled in a power struggle. And in the interim: leaks, protests, and sit-ins at parliament. A crisis is brewing in the country with fears it could lead to serious bloodshed.
- 30 Aug 2022 - 11:14(11:14 GMT)
French gov’t ‘gravely concerned’ by clashes in Baghdad and several provinces
France has expressed grave concern over fighting in the Iraqi capital Baghdad and several provinces across the country.
In a statement, the French foreign ministry called on all parties involved “to show the utmost restraint”, and to “act responsibly and immediately” stop the deadly fighting that has “already resulted in many casualties”.
At least 30 people have been killed so far and hundreds wounded in the clashes.
“It is necessary for all Iraq’s political players to commit to a genuine, constructive national dialogue which is in the interests of Iraqi people, so that their aspirations to peace, stability and security are listened to,” the ministry said in a statement.
“France asks all Iraqi political leaders to reaffirm their commitment to Iraq’s constitutional framework and respect the integrity of Iraqi institutions, which must operate without hindrance.”
#Iraq | France is gravely concerned about current events in Baghdad and several governorates which have already resulted in many casualties. 🇫🇷 asks the parties to show the utmost restraint, to act responsibly and immediately stop the deadly clashes.
➡️ https://t.co/hIw126tmdc pic.twitter.com/TQDZTabJER
— France Diplomacy🇫🇷🇪🇺 (@francediplo_EN) August 30, 2022
- 30 Aug 2022 - 11:02(11:02 GMT)
Al-Sadr’s political resignation not permanent: analyst
Zeidon Alkinani, a non-resident fellow at the Arab Centre Washington, DC, said that Muqtada al-Sadr’s decision to withdraw from politics is “not necessarily a permanent decision”.
“It is not the first time that al-Sadr claims he will make sure to freeze operations of any association that is affiliated with his movement,” Alkinani told Al Jazeera.
“There might be a speculation that is spreading, that his attempt to announce that he is political resigning is an indirect attempt to escape accountability from whatever Saraya Salam has done and will continue to do.”
Saraya Salam, or the Peace Brigades, is the armed wing of the Sadrist movement, and has been involved directly in clashes with other armed wings affiliated with political parties within the rival pro-Iran coup the Coordination Framework.
- 30 Aug 2022 - 10:40(10:40 GMT)
Protesters begin to withdraw from Green Zone
Supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr have started to leave the Green Zone area after their leader told them to end the protests.
The military also announced that a nationwide curfew, which went into effect on Monday at 7pm local time (20:00 GMT), has been lifted, further raising hopes that there might be an end to the street violence.
- 30 Aug 2022 - 10:24(10:24 GMT)
Al-Sadr thanks security forces for their ‘neutral stance’
Muqtada al-Sadr, who announced his resignation from politics on Monday, directed some strong words to his powerful base of supporters, criticising their actions.
Al-Sadr’s exit from politics prompted his supporters to storm the government palace in Baghdad’s Green Zone on Monday, where clashes with rival pro-Iran Shia groups killed at least 30 people.
“I thank the security forces that took a neutral stance with all parties,” he said, adding that the pro-Iran Popular Mobilisation Unit (PMF) that have integrated with the Iraqi security forces have nothing to do with what is happening
“Now I criticise the revolution of the Sadrist movement as I criticised the October revolution,” he said, referring to the anti-government protests of 2019.
- 30 Aug 2022 - 10:16(10:16 GMT)
Muqtada al-Sadr tells followers to end protests
Influential Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr told his supporters to leave the capital’s Green Zone after violence rocked Baghdad for two days.
“The party is disciplined and obedient, and I wash my hands of those who do not withdraw from parliament building within an hour,” he said in a televised speech.
Al-Sadr also apologised to the Iraqi people for the violence, which killed 30 people and wounded hundreds more.
Iraq latest updates: Al-Sadr supporters withdraw from Green Zone
Iraq news from August 30: Following days of violence, supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr withdraw from Baghdad’s Green Zone.
- Supporters of populist leader Muqtada al-Sadr begin to withdraw from Baghdad’s Green Zone after calls to fully retreat from the area.
- Al-Sadr supporters earlier fired rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns at the Green Zone as security forces returned fire.
- The fighting between rival Iraqi forces had continued for a second day in Baghdad, where 30 people have been killed and hundreds more wounded.
- Al-Sadr announced his resignation from politics two days ago and is expected to make a speech.
- Iraq’s government has been deadlocked since al-Sadr’s party won the most seats in October parliamentary elections but not enough to secure a majority government.
This live blog is now closed, thank you for joining us. These were the updates from the Iraq political crisis on Tuesday, August 30:
Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies