BAGHDAD — Iraq’s army command says the prime minister has ordered that police replace the army in a heavily populated Shiite neighbourhood of Baghdad where dozens were killed or wounded in clashes over the weekend.
This comes after a week of violence gripping Iraq has left more than 100 dead and thousands wounded.
Monday’s order for the withdrawal of the army from Sadr City appears aimed at calming tensions in the neighbourhood, where a populist Shiite cleric enjoys wide support.
The unrest is the most serious challenge facing Iraq, two years after the victory against Islamic State militants.
Iraq’s national security adviser vowed to fight attempts to “bring down the Iraqi state.” Falih al-Fayadh said an ongoing investigation will prove who was behind the violence in Baghdad and predominantly Shiite southern provinces.
The Associated Press
