Iraqi cleric orders followers to continue protest in Baghdad

Mr Al-Sadr hinted that appeals by his political rivals to negotiate did not bear fruit

Followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr outside the parliament building during a sit-in protest (Adil al-Khazali/AP)

Influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has told his followers to continue their sit-in inside Iraq’s government zone, and called for the dissolution of the parliament and early elections.

Speaking for the first time since thousands of his followers stormed the parliament building in Baghdad on Saturday, Mr al-Sadr said the “revolutionaries” must stay and continue their sit-in.