Thousands protest government in Baghdad, storming parliament

World Today

Baghdad witnessed the scenes of unprecedented protests over the weekend, as thousands marched the streets leading to the vital Green Zone and stormed the parliament on Saturday.

CCTV’s Michal Bardavid reports.

On Saturday, weeks of demonstrations came to a culmination when thousands of furious men marched, chanting, flags raised high as they forcefully brought down a cement wall and stormed the parliament.

For several hours the parliament building was transformed into a site of celebration with protesters singing and taking photos in lawmakers’ seats.

On Sunday, hundreds of Iraqi protesters stayed put at the Green Zone in Baghdad, a restricted area that houses the nations’ parliament, presidential palace, prime minister’s office and several embassies.

The protesters were rallying against the parliament’s failure to reform a political quota system.