“Withdraw from Green Zone” Al-Sadr tells supporters

Muqtada al-Sadr, the charismatic leader of Iraq’s largest Sia political grouping, called on his supporters to immediately withdraw from the country’s parliament grounds and leave Green Zone in central Baghdad. “I will disavow members of the Sadrist movement if they do not withdraw from the outside parliament building within exactly 60 minutes, ” al-Sadr said at Tuesday’s press conference. “I apologize to the Iraqi people greatly affected by this sedition, regardless of who started it,” said the 48-year-old cleric, who went on to critique his followers, adding, “this revolution is disgraceful. Iraq has become a prisoner to corruption and violence.” Iraqi medical sources Tuesday estimated that clashes between protesters and security forces in Baghdad caused 30 deaths and more than 500 injuries. “I commend security forces, Popular Mobilization Forces, and the commander of the armed forces for their honorable positions,” said al-Sadr, noting that “shedding of Iraqi blood is a sin.” A24 news teams saw Sadrist movement supporters begin to withdraw from outside the parliament building just minutes after their leader’s speech.