Al-Sadr: There’s no point in talking after the people’s speech
The leader of the Sadrist movement in Iraq, Muqtada Al-Sadr, demanded on Wednesday that his supporters continue their sit-in in the Council of Representatives in Baghdad, until their demands, which include early elections and unspecified constitutional amendments, are met.
In a televised speech, Sadr said: “The rebels must stay and continue their sit-in until demands are met,” he said.
He continued, “The malicious claims impeded the formation of the majority government,” pointing out that “reform comes only with sacrifice, and I am fully prepared to witness for reform.”
“The revolution began as a Sadrist and they are part of the people,” he said, adding that “the revolution will not exclude the corrupt from the Sadrist movement”.
Al-Sadr said that he “did not and will not accept any bloodshed,” pointing out that “most of the people are tired of the ruling class as a whole.”
The new statements are likely to prolong the political stalemate that has kept Iraq without an elected government for nearly ten months.
On Saturday, Sadrist supporters began a sit-in inside the parliament building to express their rejection of the nomination of Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani as prime minister.
As the situation escalates, Iraqi President Barham Saleh called for holding a national dialog between political factions, giving precedence to the language of reason and advancing the national interest.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi made a speech in which he held the political blocs responsible for the escalation, and demanded that they use the language of dialog and make concessions to overcome the crisis.
