Under the title "Iraq: Militia Supporters Attack Security Forces Near the Green Zone," Al Arabiya reported that Iranian militia supporters in Iraq attacked security forces today, Friday, around the Green Zone in Baghdad. Iraqi media reported that security declared a state of emergency around the Green Zone following violent clashes between militiamen supporters of the losing election candidates and security forces near some gates of the Green Zone.
This comes as Iraqi media quoted a security source today stating that security forces have been deployed in Tahrir Square in Baghdad, amid calls from opposition forces against the election results for protests today. The source indicated that "law enforcement forces have deployed in Tahrir Square and near the Republic Bridge, in anticipation of any emergencies.”
The losing factions in the parliamentary elections, which were held in Iraq on October 10, accused the Independent High Electoral Commission of acting in a dubious manner. The "Coordination Framework," which includes Shiite parties that lost the elections—led by Hadi al-Amiri's Conquest Alliance, Nuri al-Maliki's State of Law Coalition, Ammar al-Hakim's State Forces, and Haidar al-Abadi's Victory Alliance—stated in a declaration on Thursday: "The election commission is still playing a dubious role in dealing with the appeals submitted, which are backed by evidence and argument."
The statement added: "We call on the Supreme Judicial Council and the esteemed Federal Court to intervene actively to rescue the country from the dangers caused by the commission, which has lost its eligibility." The statement also urged "our supporters in all provinces of Iraq to participate in peaceful demonstrations, which may be the last under the title of 'Last Chance Friday' before we enter another phase of escalation in protests to express our grievances and recover our stolen votes, our usurped will, and our lost rights."
This escalatory step comes just two days after the Independent High Electoral Commission reopened the appeals process again to allow losing parties to present clear evidence regarding the alleged fraud. A statement from Hakim's office noted that during a meeting with the German ambassador in Baghdad, Martin Beigel, "The head of the State Forces Coalition emphasized the importance of further efforts to strengthen security and political stability in Iraq." While the Coordination Framework's statement accused the election commission of losing its eligibility, Hakim affirmed, saying: "We still hold hope that the commission and the judiciary will address the appeals and issues raised by the political parties protesting the election results with high transparency."
