Iraqi Sadrist Movement freezes activity of Al-Salam brigades
A close figure to the leader of the Sadrist Movement Muqtada Al-Sadr announced that the activity of all armed factions including Al-Salam brigades to be frozen
-
Iraqi Sadrist Movement freezes activity of its armed factions including Al-Salam brigades.
The Sadrist movement in Iraq announced on Thursday freezing the activity of all its armed factions in all provinces except Salah al-Din and Samarra.
Saleh al-Iraqi, an Iraqi figure close to the leader of the Sadrist movement Muqtada al-Sadr, said in a statement via Twitter, "we announce the freezing of all armed factions-if any-including the Al-Salam Brigades and the Prohibition of the use of weapons in all provinces except Salah al-Din and Samarra and areas around them, or as directed and ordered by the current commander-in-chief of the armed forces."
Read more: Iraq facing one of its worst political crises since 2003: Al-Kadhimi
— وزير القائد - صالح محمد العراقي (@salih_m_iraqi) October 6, 2022
Iraq is suffering from a political crisis that has recently escalated with the resignation of Sadrist bloc deputies from Parliament and called for dissolving the parliament and early elections. Later, Iraqi government announced the launch of a national dialogue between the political forces to resolve the crisis.
The first national meeting was held at the Government Palace in Baghdad, on August 17, in the presence of the three presidencies and leaders of political forces with the exception of the Sadrist movement.
On the other hand, the coordination framework confirmed its ongoing dialogue with all parties to implement constitutional requirements, stressing its "full adherence to its candidate for Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani".
The Secretary-General of Asaib Ahl al-Haq Sheikh Qais al-Khazali announced on Friday that all the forces of the coordination framework approve early elections in order to please the Sadrist movement.
Al-Sadr's supporters staged a sit-in outside Iraq's parliament for several weeks after storming it on July 30 to protest the Coordination Framework's nomination of Mohammad Shiya Al-Sudani for Prime Minister.
Following the turmoil with no agreement in sight, the Leader of the Sadrist movement Muqtada Al-Sadr announced on August 29th that he is quitting politics. In a tweet, Sadr announced his final resignation from politics and the closure of all his party offices. "I've decided not to meddle in political affairs. I, therefore, announce now my definitive retirement," said Al-Sadr.
Following the resignation, dozens of Al-Sadr's supporters stormed the Green Zone in Baghdad, and the police used water cannons against the demonstrators, where the government building and foreign embassies are located, however, later cleared the streets upon Al-Sadr orders.
Calm returned to Iraq after the withdrawal of supporters of the Sadrist Movement from the green zone, and the coordination framework ended the sit-in of its supporters also in the capital Baghdad, after clashes that killed and injured dozens.
