SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The real dialogue would not be launched unless the constitution is respected, said the head of the Iraqi state of the law as a reaction to Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s remarks on Wednesday.
The head of state of law and political rival of the cleric Nouri al-Maliki in a Tweet said, “The real dialogue which can build hopes on it to decide on the disputes and returning the affairs to its right path, would not be launched unless the constitution and the state’s institutions are respected”.
Maliki’s Tweet came after when influential Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr addressed his followers late on Wednesday evening urging his followers to continue the protests until their demands are met.
“The corrupt are trying to escape accountability and the rule of law”, adding “I’m only seeking reform for a better country, not personal gain or bloodshed,” he said.
“We have tried dialogue before and it was useless,” Sadr said regarding the previous talks with his political rival bloc, the Shiite coordination framework.
During his remarks, Sadr also called for another early election and the dissolution of the current parliament, he rejected all calls for dialogue and urged his followers to continue the so-called peaceful revolution.
Sadr opponents are accusing the Sadrist movement of degrading the parliament as well as the constitution when his followers on Saturday under the cleric’s demand breached the parliament building and set up a sit-in.
Iraq’s current political unrest is triggered by a prolonged political deadlock. Nearly 10 months after national elections were held, Iraq has been unable to form a new government. That’s the longest period since the 2003 U.S. invasion that reset the political order.
