Shiite cleric leads anti-corruption protest in Iraqi capital
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Version 0 of 1. BAGHDAD — Tens of thousands of Iraqi Shiites have held a protest against corruption in a rally in downtown Baghdad called by influential cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. The rally Friday in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square appeared in part to be an attempt by al-Sadr to show his strength. Weekly protests have been held frequently against corruption, but usually only a few hundred people attended, until al-Sadr this week called on his followers to join. “No, no, to corruption,” and “The people are all with you, Sayed Muqtada,” the flag-waving crowd chanted as al-Sadr gave a speech to the gathering. Progress has been stalled for months on an anti-corruption reform package proposed by Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi last year. Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |