Security forces in Baghdad prepare for renewed protests

[Anthea]

Iraqi security forces blocked two of the main bridges leading to the Green Zone following Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s call for protests after Friday prayers.

Sadr’s press office issued a statement on Friday (May 6) calling on Iraqis to peacefully demonstrate after the weekly Friday prayers.

An NRT correspondent in Baghdad said security forces had blocked the roads leading to Sinak and Republic Bridges in Baghdad. A security source said the bridges were closed on Friday due to security measures to preserve the safety of the city.

A large number of security forces have been deployed in and around the Green Zone to protect the security of the area, where demonstrators stormed parliament last week.

Iraq has endured months of wrangling prompted by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's attempt to replace party-affiliated ministers with technocrats as part of an anti-corruption drive.

Hundreds of protesters broke into Baghdad’s Green Zone and forced entry into the Iraqi Parliament building on April 30, after parliament failed to hold a session to vote on nominees for the new cabinet.

The demonstrators, mostly supporters of Sadr, withdrew from the Green Zone, which houses government buildings and foreign embassies, on May 1, after storming the parliament building in the culmination of months of sit-ins and demonstrations calling for political reform.

[Benny]

Extra US Marines are sent to the US Embassy in Baghdad:

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/05/06/polit ... index.html

/Benny

[Anthea]

Extra US Marines are sent to the US Embassy in Baghdad:

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/05/06/polit ... index.html

/Benny

Good Link Thank You Benny

Twenty-five additional heavily armed U.S. Marines arrived at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad within the last several hours, a U.S. official tells CNN.

The Marines were requested by the State Department, which is in charge of security.

Concerns have risen since demonstrations occurred there last week in Baghdad's "Green Zone," where the embassy is located.
More demonstrations had been expected Friday but the U.S. official said the area has remained peaceful so far.

Neither the Pentagon or State Department disclosed the precise number of security forces already on site.

UN had asked Kurds to intercede but they were probably far to busy laughing to become involved