Under the title "Baghdad: Iran-Backed Militias Protest Election Results as Commission Completes Vote Count," Al Arabiya reported that several leaders of Iraqi militias loyal to Iran, which lost in the recent parliamentary elections, gathered late Saturday at the gates of the Green Zone to participate in protests against the elections and what they term as vote rigging. Among those participating were groups such as Hezbollah, Badr, Al-Nujaba, and Al-Asa'ib.
Hundreds participated in a demonstration at one of the fortified gates of the Green Zone in Baghdad following clashes between protesters supporting Iran-affiliated factions, opposing the results of the early parliamentary elections, and security forces. At least one person was reported killed during these confrontations. The protesters set up tents in a park adjacent to one of the four gates of the Green Zone in preparation for a new sit-in, burning pictures of Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, while security forces were deployed in the area.
Simultaneously, the Independent High Electoral Commission in Iraq announced on Saturday that the manual recount and sorting in all stations would be completed on Sunday. A commission media member, Imad Jameel, stated that "the appeals covered only 11 provinces. The commission has completed counting in five provinces: Babylon, Karbala, Najaf, Diyala, and Baghdad on both sides, Karkh and Rusafa.” He added: “On Sunday, the commission will complete the provinces of Nineveh, Salahaddin, Basra, Kirkuk, and Dhi Qar, in addition to the migrant stations in Duhok, which include 44 stations, as well as the votes of the displaced in Nineveh. The commission will complete all stations by Sunday.”
Jameel continued, “After the judicial authority concludes the appeals submitted to it, the commission can announce the final results of the elections,” stressing that there was no pressure on the commission “either internally or externally.”
Furthermore, Iraqi authorities announced on Saturday the closure of the entrances to the Green Zone amid heightened security. A march by demonstrators from the Popular Mobilization Forces and losing parties in the elections aimed to reach the gates of the Green Zone. The demonstrators plan to hold a mourning session for a leader of the "Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq" militia who was killed in clashes with security forces on Friday. This militia is one of the prominent factions within the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces.
Earlier on Saturday, the Joint Operations Command in Iraq stated that Prime Minister Al-Kadhimi directed the formation of what he described as a "forward headquarters" led by a "senior officer" to manage and secure the sit-in area near the suspension bridge in Baghdad, to prevent friction between security forces and protesters. The command mentioned in a statement published by the Security Media Cell that representatives from security agencies and the Popular Mobilization Forces would participate in forming this forward headquarters.
The command urged security forces to "exercise restraint and adhere to the best professional practices to protect freedom of expression and human rights." The statement also called on protesters to "adhere to the rules of freedom of expression guaranteed by the Iraqi constitution." This comes while the investigative committee, which Al-Kadhimi ordered to be formed, began its work to uncover the circumstances and repercussions that led to casualties among the demonstrators and security forces, with Qais Khazali threatening Al-Kadhimi with a response after ousting his supporters from the Green Zone.
Al-Kadhimi had ordered the formation of an investigative committee that included members from the Popular Mobilization Forces to review the events of the protests on Friday. The committee is expected to hold accountable those responsible, especially those who violated the commander-in-chief's orders not to fire live ammunition under any circumstances. Additionally, Al-Kadhimi decided to compensate the victims and personally supervise the investigation and necessary measures.
Simultaneously, the leader of the "Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq" militia threatened Prime Minister Al-Kadhimi with a response after his supporters and those of the electoral losers were expelled from the gates of the Green Zone. This is while the UN mission in Iraq expressed its regret over the escalation of violent incidents and injuries between protesters opposing the election results and security forces at the entrances to the Green Zone.
The UN mission called on all parties to exercise restraint and stop violence during the protests. According to an Iraqi security source quoted by AFP, one protester was killed by gunfire during the protests in Baghdad, although it was not specified whether security forces fired the shots. The Iraqi Ministry of Health reported that hospitals recorded more than 120 injuries, mostly among security forces.
