Iraq's Green Zone security commander replaced over incursion by protesters
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 5 May 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Iraq's Green Zone security commander replaced over incursion by protesters, 5 May 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/576900b96.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
May 05, 2016
Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi has replaced the commander of an Iraqi military division who was responsible for protecting Baghdad's diplomatic Green Zone.
A government spokesman said General Muhammad Ridha was being replaced due to "the breach and assaults against government institutions" by protesters who stormed into the heavily fortified diplomatic zone on April 30.
Hundreds of protesters, mostly followers of Iraq's influential Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, knocked down the Green Zone's concrete blast walls on April 30 and broke into the parliament building – damaging furniture and slapping some lawmakers who tried to flee.
Security forces stood by during the incursion and some were seen kissing and shaking hands with the protesters.
Sadr's supporters have held protests for months to demand an overhaul of the political system that was put in place by U.S. officials after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003.
In March, Ridha himself had been seen kissing Sadr's hands when the cleric entered the Green Zone to start a brief sit-in protest.
Based on reporting by AP and Reuters
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
