Iraqis Protest Near Green Zone Against Alleged US Interference in Government Formation

Hundreds of Iraqis have staged a protest near the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad, accusing the United States of alleged interference in Iraq’s internal affairs during the process of forming a new government. The demonstrators gathered near the suspension bridge close to the entrance road leading to the US Embassy, chanting slogans against the United States and demanding the protection of Iraq’s sovereignty.

While security forces prevented the protesters from moving toward the US Embassy gate, leading to minor scuffles the demonstration remained largely peaceful. The protest began amid escalating verbal exchanges between Washington and Baghdad.

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump warned that the United States would withhold further support to Iraq if former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki were to return to power. On Wednesday, al-Maliki condemned what he called blatant US interference in Iraq’s internal affairs, describing it as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty, an attack on the democratic system established after 2003, and an infringement on the decision of the Coordination Framework (CF) regarding the selection of the prime minister.

The Coordination Framework, an umbrella group of Shiite parties, has officially nominated al-Maliki for a third term to lead the next government. Born in 1950, al-Maliki served two terms as Iraq’s prime minister from 2006 to 2014. Under Iraq’s power-sharing system, the presidency is reserved for Kurds, the speakership for Sunnis, and the prime ministership for Shiite Muslims.