Iraq's neighbors urge calm in response to Baghdad clashes
The situation in Baghdad has calmed somewhat after cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called on his supporters to pull back.
Several regional countries have issued statements on the political violence in Iraq, expressing concern at the violence and urging calm.
Last night supporters of influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr stormed the seat of the Iraqi government in Baghdad. Armed clashes ensued between the Sadrist Saraya al-Salam militia and Iran-backed Shiite militias within Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units.
The conflict relates to the deliberations over a new government. Sadr’s bloc received the most votes in Iraq’s election in October, though it fell short of a majority and has been unable to form a government since then. Sadr supporters opposed the presidential candidate nominated in July by the Coordination Framework, which is an alliance of PMU groups, former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and other Shiite politicians.
There have been protests for weeks, but the violence in Baghdad last night and earlier today involving heavy weaponry was a major escalation. There were also protests in other Iraq cities overnight.
