Aug 29 Clashes leave at least 15 dead after influential Iraqi Shiite cleric announces plan to resign from politics By Qassim Abdul-Zahra, Associated Press Protesters loyal to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr pulled down the cement barriers outside the government palace with ropes and breached the palace gates. Continue reading
Aug 14 Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council says it has no powers to dissolve parliament By Qassim Abdul-Zahra, Associated Press Iraq’s top judicial body said Sunday it doesn't have the authority to dissolve the country’s parliament, days after an influential Shiite cleric gave it one week to dismiss the legislature so that new elections can be held. Continue reading
Aug 05 Hundreds of thousands gather for mass prayer in Baghdad By Qassim Abdul-Zahra, Associated Press Friday’s mass prayer was the latest display of strength by the cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr, whose political power derives from his strong grassroots support base. Continue reading
Aug 03 Iraqi cleric calls for dissolution of parliament, early election By Qassim Abdul-Zahra, Samya Kullab, Associated Press Influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has told his followers to continue their sit-in inside Iraq's government zone, and called for the dissolution of the parliament and early elections. Continue reading
Aug 03 Watch 8:36 After a long battle, veterans celebrate PACT Act’s passage. But the war goes on for many By Nick Schifrin, Dan Sagalyn After a week of delay and debate in Congress, President Biden on Monday will sign legislation that makes it easier for veterans to get VA benefits after becoming sick from exposure to toxins in war zones. But it has been… Continue watching
Aug 02 Watch 4:25 Months of political infighting in Iraq prompt widespread protests and instability By Simona Foltyn Iraq has been reeling from unrest after the powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called for a revolution, taunting his Shiite rivals and demanding sweeping changes to the current political system. Special correspondent Simona Foltyn reports from Baghdad. Continue watching
Aug 01 Watch 3:11 News Wrap: Pelosi begins Asian tour with stop in Singapore In our news wrap Monday, Nancy Pelosi begins Asian tour in Singapore amid reports that she plans to make a stop in Taiwan, Texas man tied to a far-right militia sentenced to seven years in federal prison in Jan. 6… Continue watching
Aug 01 Political rivalry stirs panic of protests and escalation in Iraq By Samya Kullab, Qassim Abdul-Zahra, Associated Press The political rivals of an influential Iraqi cleric whose followers stormed the parliament have declared their own counter-protest. Continue reading
Jul 31 Hundreds of followers of Shiite cleric camp out in Iraqi parliament By Samya Kullab, Qassim Abdul-Zahra, Associated Press The protesters — followers of cleric Muqtada al-Sadr — pledged to hold an open-ended sit-in to derail efforts by their rivals from Iran-backed political groups to form the country's next government. Their demands are lofty: early elections, constitutional amendments and… Continue reading
Jul 30 Protesters storm Iraqi parliament in Baghdad By Qassim Abdul-Zahra, Samya Kullab, Associated Press Iraqi security forces initially used tear gas and sound bombs to try to repel the demonstrators and caused several injuries. Once inside, the protesters declared an open-ended sit-in and claimed they would not disperse until their demands are answered. Continue reading