BREAKINGBREAKING,
Muqtada al-Sadr’s announcement comes as his supporters continue a sit-in demanding parliament be dissolved.
The Iraqi Shia religious leader Muqtada al-Sadr has announced his “full withdrawal” from political life and the closure of his political offices in a move that could further inflame tensions in the country.
The statement, published on Twitter, comes amid months of protests by his supporters backing his call for the dissolution of the Iraqi parliament.
Al-Sadr’s supporters had won the most seats in October’s parliamentary elections, but were unable to form a government.
He ordered his parliamentary bloc to resign en-masse in June, which they promptly did, although this handed the initiative in parliament to his Iran-backed Shia opponents, the Coordination Framework Alliance.
Instead, al-Sadr’s supporters have taken to the streets to call for the dissolution of parliament, and stormed the parliamentary building in July. They have maintained a sit-in in front of the parliament ever since.
Iraq’s Supreme Federal Court is meeting on Tuesday to decide on whether the parliament will be dissolved.
Al-Sadr has announced his withdrawal from political life before, only to walk his decision back.
More to follow.