ERBIL — Thousands of supporters of Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Friday evening took to streets and closed down several offices of the Al-Hikma movement and Islamic Dawa party.
The angry protesters returned to the streets after Ammar al-Hakim criticized Sadr during a speech and renewed his support for the pro-Iran Shia Coordination Framework, which has announced a candidate for premiership.
Iraqi reports said that more then 10 offices of Al-Hikma movement and three offices of the Islamic Dawa party were shut down in Baghdad and other southern provinces by the protesters.
The Sadr supporters have reportedly planned for mass demonstrations on Saturday in Tahrir square.
According to Al Arabiya, the Iraqi army has sent "huge" reinforcements to the capital city ahead of the planned demonstrations.
The Sadrist supporters are protesting against Muhammed Shiyaa’ al-Sudani, a candidate announced by the Shia Coordination Framework for Iraq’s premiership.