welcome to the programme. iraq s president has said an early election could resolve the political unrest gripping the country. to those who have taken their eye off iraq, the violence that broke out in baghdad yesterday, might have looked like a sudden eruption of rage. in fact, the sectarian anger has been simmering for years. the country is riddled with corruption, it has not had a functioning government since the october elections and the spiralling cost of living is pushing iraq towards an existential crisis. the spark that ignited these protests yesterday was the sudden announcement by the shia cleric, muqtadr al sadr, that he was withdrawing from political life. sadr has been a major player in iraq since 2003, when his supporters known then as the mehdi army, began attacks on coalition troops. in october, the sadrists won the most seats in parliament but refused to form a coalition with the mostly shi ite iran backed parties. injune, sadr asked all of his mps to resign
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