Abadi warns protesters against dragging Iraq into chaos

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi warned against “the use of the popular protests against corruption and mismanagement to drag the country into chaos.”
He added that the political crisis could negatively reflect on efforts to fight Daesh in the country.
In a televised speech yesterday, Al-Abadi said: “We fear that some may take advantage of the peaceful protests to pull the country into chaos, looting, and destruction.”

“This is what happened in the attack on the parliament and MPs,” referring to the incident involving hundreds of Sadrist Movement supporters who stormed the Green Zone in central Baghdad last week. This area includes the government headquarters, as well as international and foreign envoys and missions.
In addition to this, angry protestors stormed the parliament building, destroying furniture and beating a number of MPs as they left the building.
The protestors held the MPs responsible for the failure of the efforts to form a technocratic government.
Al-Abadi added in his speech that this development is a dangerous indicator of the lack of respect for state institutions and the lack of regard for public funds and property. He stressed that “deterrent measures will be taken to prevent the violation of the citizens’ rights and security.”