At least 125 people were hurt, and a political standoff was intensified, when thousands of supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite populist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr stormed Baghdad's guarded government zone and broke into parliament on Saturday.
Before entering parliament, demonstrators led by Sadr and his Sadrist Movement tore down concrete barriers and invaded the Green Zone, which is home to government agencies and diplomatic institutions.
Among the thousands of protestors waving national flags and placards with Sadr's image, one named Abu Foad stated, "We are calling for a government free from corruption... and those are the demands of the people."
Similar protests were held on Wednesday, but this time at least 125 people, including protesters and police, were hurt, according to a statement from the health ministry.
Stones were thrown by Sadr's followers, while police used tear gas and stun grenades.
Alaa Hussain, a 49-year-old demonstrator, added, "Those crooked people have caused injustices for us Iraqis to suffer.
"I'm unemployed, and my two university-educated children are both unemployed. There are no jobs, and corruption is the sole source of this."
In an election held in October, Sadr's party won the most votes, but he removed his 74 lawmakers from the legislature after failing to form a coalition with his Shi'ite competitors, the majority of whom are sponsored by Iran and have heavily armed paramilitary wings.
The Iraqi Coalition Framework, an association of Shi'ite parties supported by Iran, gained dozens of seats as a result of his resignation.
Since then, Sadr has followed through on warnings to incite unrest among the populace if parliament approves an administration he disagrees with, insisting that it must be free of foreign control.
Chanting was directed towards Sadr's opponents who are now attempting to build a government. Many people demonstrated in front of the Supreme Court of the nation, which Sadr has accused of interfering in order to stop him from establishing a cabinet.
Later on Saturday, the Coalition Framework responded by urging Iraqis to peacefully demonstrate "in defence of the state, its legitimacy and its institutions," sparking worries of conflicts.
De-escalation was demanded by the UN. Its mission in Iraq stated that "voices of reason and wisdom are necessary to prevent more violence."
Political groupings were cautioned by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi not to intensify unrest. He urged people to avoid fighting and keep Iraq safe in a televised address.
According to the Iraqi news agency, Speaker of the House Mohammed al-Halbousi halted all parliamentary activity until further notice.
Due to the impasse, Iraq has been without a president and prime minister for roughly ten months.
Sadr, whose opponents also accuse him of corruption, continues to have significant state authority because his movement is still actively involved in national governance. Some of the purportedly most dishonest and ineffective government agencies have long been managed by his allies.
Iraqis who are not affiliated with either Sadr or his rivals claim they are trapped in the middle of the political impasse.
Despite Baghdad's record income from its massive oil resources, the nation lacks a budget, frequently experiences power and water outages, provides subpar healthcare and education, and offers few work possibilities for young people.
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