Iraq PM Orders Arrests After Breach of Baghdad’s Green Zone

Iraq’s prime minister has ordered the arrest of protesters who attacked security forces and assaulted MPs as they stormed the country’s parliament in Baghdad Saturday.

The Iraqi capital remained under a state of emergency on Sunday after supporters of popular Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr breached the heavily fortified Green Zone Saturday. Roads to and from Baghdad had reopened, however, after security forces secured the breach.

The protesters, who were responding to Sadr’s call to pressure the government to introduce reforms, left the parliament building on Saturday night and were holding a sit-in at the Saddam-era Grand Festivities Square.

“Security forces cannot force the protesters to leave the Green Zone. Therefore the only choice that is available and will help to calm down the situation is to cooperate with the protesters, not to stand against them,” an Iraqi security official told NBC on condition of anonymity.

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