Iraqis hold protest in Baghdad, call for reforms

Thousands of Iraqis protested in the capital, Baghdad, Friday calling for reforms and supporting lawmakers who are participating in a sit-in inside the parliament.

According to the reports, the demonstrators also called for the formation of a technocrat government during the protest in Tahrir Square in central Baghdad.

They said they will keep protesting till their demands are met.

The parliament voted on March 28 to give Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi a three-day deadline by which to present his new government or face a vote of no-confidence.

The premier met the deadline and presented a list of nominees. However, he has faced stiff resistance from some parties seeking to maintain their influence in the administration.

Most of those on Abadi’s list were later substituted with new names on a second list distributed among lawmakers on April 12, triggering a storm and prompting some lawmakers to launch at a sit-in at the floor.

SS