Al-Sadr threatens to boycott election in reform protests in central Baghdad

BAGHDAD, March 24 (KUNA) -- Iraq's Shiite cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr threatened to boycott the upcoming provincial elections on Friday, urging instead followers to join a "reform revolution." Speaking to thousands at Tahrir square in an anti-government protest in Baghdad, Al-Sadr' supporters were carrying Iraqi flags and calling for continued peaceful rallies.
Al-Sadr said Iraqis who love their country and hate corruption, regardless of ideology, support the "reform revolution." The remarks reflect continued power struggles in Baghdad even Iraqi forces battle the Islamic State group in Mosul.
Al-Sadr first took up the mantle of reform over a year ago, when escalating protests occasionally turned violent, breaching Baghdad's highly fortified Green Zone, home to the government and many foreign embassies. (end) ahh.mb