Iraqi politician Hakim calls on political parties to engage in dialogue

KHALID AL-MOUSILY/REUTERS

Supporters of Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr gather for a sit-in at the parliament building, amid political crisis in Baghdad, Iraq, on August 2, 2022.

A senior Iraqi Shia cleric called for political dialogue between the Arab country’s rival factions, as supporters of cleric Moqtada al-Sadr continue an open-ended occupation of the parliament amid a deepening political standoff over the formation of a new government.

Head of the National Wisdom political coalition Sayyed Ammar al-Hakim said on Tuesday that he supports outgoing Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s call on protesters to remain calm and avoid attacking security forces and his appeal to political parties in the country to negotiate and reach a common ground, Press TV reported.

Tensions have soared in Iraq over the failure to form a government nearly 10 months after last October’s legislative elections, which marked the country’s longest post-election deadlock.

Thousands of Iraqi demonstrators staged a protest on Monday at the edge of Baghdad’s heavily-fortified Green Zone, which houses government departments and foreign missions, as Sadr’s supporters extended their occupation of parliament into the third day.

Sadr on Sunday took to Twitter to call on political factions in the Arab country to support his followers who have breached the parliament and are preparing for a long sit-in at the legislative body.