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Protesters withdraw from Baghdad Green Zone

BAGHDAD, May 1 (KUNA) -- Iraqi protesters, who stormed the capital's central Green Zone and the parliament on Saturday, began to withdraw from the area, an organizing committee announced Sunday.
The withdrawal comes out of respect to an upcoming visit by a sacred religious figure to Baghdad, and to give the country's top decision makers a chance to respond to the people's reform demands, the protest's organizing committee said in a statement.
However, demonstrations shall resume stronger in the Green Zone if decision makers and parliament fail to achieve reform demands, among which a vote on a government of technocrats in a single session, the statement said.
In case of failure to secure the vote, protesters will then demand the dismissal of all three presidencies - head of statement, Premier and speaker, it said, noting that they will also call for early elections if dismissal demands fail.
If call for early elections fail, the demonstrators will then take all lawful means such as civil disobedience and general strike, the committee warned.
Thousands of angry crowds and followers of religions leader Moqtada Al-Sadr have stormed the heavily-fortified Green Zone area and the parliament yesterday after Al-Sadr condemned adopting of quota system in the distribution of cabinet portfolios among political parties.
Protesters also moved into the nearby compound of the secretary general of Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi's office. (end) ahh.ma