Iraq's Sadr calls on Shiite followers to join Friday protests in Baghdad

Iraq's firebrand Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr on Monday called on his followers to join Friday demonstrations in the capital of Baghdad to protest corruption and lack of public services.

"We announce to all Iraqis, in particular to the Sadr followers, the necessity to participate in the protests in the coming Friday in Baghdad," Sadr said in a statement.

Sadr also called on his followers to merge with other protesters and share them the same banners and demands which call for comprehensive reform, including the judicial system, sacking the corrupts and prosecuting them, the statement said.

Hundreds of Iraqis have been rallying on Friday in the past three weeks in Baghdad and Shiite cities in southern Iraq to protest against slack public services, power shortage, and massive corruption.

The demonstrations were backed by the call of Iraq's most revered Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani who asked Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to be "more daring and courageous in his reforms."

Emboldened by the protests and Sistani's call, Abadi announced a package of reforms, including abolishing the posts of vice president and deputy premier and cutting 11 of his cabinet posts, in addition to slashing the number of guards for senior officials.

Abadi's reform plan gained popular support but fell short to convince many demonstrations who continued their protests and set up tents in the cities if Basra and Hilla, demanding Abadi to be more aggressive against the political parties who benefit from the corruption and could reverse the reforms to their own benefit. Endit