Iraq announces a comprehensive curfew and President Saleh calls for restrain and calm

Baghdad (ST) – On Monday, the Iraqi Joint Operation Command announced the imposition of a comprehensive curfew across the country, starting from seven p.m. in the local time.

The leadership said in a statement carried by the Iraqi News Agency Wa’a “We announce a comprehensive curfew in all governorates of Iraq, starting from seven p.m. on Monday until further notice”.

The Iraqi President, Barham Saleh, stressed that the developments of events oblige the national forces to rise above their differences. He said in a statement, “The difficult circumstance that is going through our country requires everyone to commit to calm, restrain, prevent escalation, and ensure that the situation does not slip into unknown and dangerous mazes in which everyone will lose”.

Saleh pointed out that peaceful demonstration and expressing opinion is a constitutionally guaranteed right with adherence to the laws and the preservation of public security. Adding that disturbing state institutions is a dangerous matter that puts the country and the interests of citizens in grave danger, calling the protestors to withdraw from the official institutions and allow the security forces to carry out their duty to maintain security, order, and public properties.

Hundreds of protestors stormed into the green area in the middle of Baghdad, after the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, announced his “permanent retirement from political work and the closure of all his affiliates”.

Najla Khoury