Iraq’s Sadr warns rivals of resorting to violence

Leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada Al-Sadr, yesterday warned rival Shia factions against resorting to threats or violence, amid tensions over forming the next government.

“We are proceeding with the formation of a national majority government, and our door is open to some of those whom we still have good faith,” Al-Sadr, whose bloc won a majority of votes in the country’s recent elections, said on Twitter.

He warned that he will not allow anyone, whoever they are, to threaten his partners or threaten civil peace.

“The next government is a government of law, in which there is no room for violation,” he added.

Al-Sadr stressed that “there will be no return to sectarian fighting or violence, as the law will rule.”

His remarks come a day after security official in the Hezbollah Brigades, Abu Ali Al-Askari, warned that the country will witness “difficult days”.

On Sunday, the brigades announced their rejection of the outcomes of the first parliamentary session, during which Muhammad Al-Halbousi was voted speaker of the house, saying the session was “marred by legal violations”.

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