Iraq's Shia rivals call on their supporters for huge rallies

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AA) - Main Iraqi Shia rival blocs urged supporters Thursday to demonstrate Friday in different parts of the country.

A committee of the Iran-aligned Coordination Framework, headed by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, encouraged supporters to rally near the walls of Baghdad's fortified Green Zone but to maintain public order and security.

Meanwhile, senior pro-Sadr movement, Saleh Mohamed al-Iraqi called on supporters to rally in different provinces at the same time that protests of the rival Coordination Framework are taking place and not to leave the demonstrations.

The movement of firebrand Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, pressed Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council on Wednesday to dissolve parliament by the end of the week.

The influential cleric expressed hope that judicial authorities, especially the Supreme Judicial Council, will “correct the path” after a constitutional deadline expires for parliament to choose a president and assign a premier to form a government.

Al-Sadr recently said he wanted the dissolution of the assembly and holding early elections amid a nine-month political crisis that has stalled the government formation since the Oct. 10, 2021 elections.

Last June, 73 lawmakers of the Al-Sadr's movement resigned from the 329-seat parliament after failing to form a "national majority" government, as the Coordination Framework hampered the formation of the Cabinet.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar