Iraqis warned to stay away from 'unauthorised' protest

Iraqi security forces warned people to stay away from a major protest planned for Friday, saying the demonstration is "unauthorised".

In a statement issued on the eve of the planned demonstration, the Joint Operations Command said anyone who appeared with weapons would be dealt with "as a terrorist threat".

Powerful Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr called for a major demonstration to be held in Baghdad's Tahrir Square to push the government to carry out reform, after a multi-week break in protests during the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. At previous demonstrations, protesters broke into Baghdad's fortified Green Zone area where the government is headquartered, but the demonstrations were largely peaceful.

The government had already asked demonstrators to stay home, saying protests at this stage could distract security forces from their fight against the Islamic State group and ultimately aid the jihadists.

Sadr has called for a government of technocrats to replace the current party-affiliated ministers – a measure proposed by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi – and has organised demonstrations calling for that change.

Abadi first called for a cabinet including technocrats in February, but has faced significant opposition from powerful political forces that rely on control of ministries for patronage and funds.

Some of Abadi's cabinet nominees were approved in April, but in a blow to the premier, a court later scrapped the session, from which some lawmakers who sought to disrupt it were barred from attending.    (AFP)

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