Iraq’s top court says it cannot dissolve parliament as impasse continues

Iraq’s Supreme Court said on Wednesday it does not have the constitutional authority to dissolve parliament, a key demand by powerful cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who has threatened further unrest if the court does not do as he says.

The court added in a statement that the parliament must dissolve itself in a case where it is not carrying out its duties.

Iraq’s top court ruled on Wednesday it could not dissolve parliament, a key demand by powerful cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and his millions of followers and an important sticking point in a power struggle that caused bloody clashes in Baghdad last month.

The Federal Supreme Court said in a statement parliament must dissolve itself if it is deemed to have not performed its duties.

Iraq’s parliament is a powerful body that chooses a president and prime minister and must approve all laws.

A political crisis in Iraq that began after an election in October brought violence onto the streets with the worst clashes the country has seen in years.

Armed supporters of al-Sadr exchange machine gun and rocket fire with government forces and militant groups backed by Iran at the end of August after al-Sadr quit politics and let protesters storm government buildings.

Al-Sadr was the biggest winner from the October vote but withdrew all his lawmakers, nearly a quarter of parliament, in June and resorted to whipping up street protests after his movement failed to form a government.

The cleric’s opponents, mostly Iran-backed parties with armed wings, have tried but also failed to form a government in the face of the protests and unrest.