Iraqi Cleric Meets With PM After Starting Green Zone Sit-In

March 27, 2016

Powerful Iraqi Shi'ite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr met with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi late March 27 after starting his sit-in following weeks of protests in the Iraqi capital.

Earlier in the day, security forces stepped aside to allow Sadr to enter the Green Zone, which houses the country's political elite as well as most of the city's foreign embassies.

Sadr told his supporters camped outside the Green Zone that he would enter the compound as their "representative."

Sadr has repeatedly called on Abadi to enact sweeping economic and political reforms.

More than a week ago, hundreds of Sadr's supporters began a sit-in at the gates of the compound to maintain pressure on the government to enact reforms.In February, Sadr demanded that the Iraqi government tackle corruption by replacing key politicians.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters