Sadrist Movement in Iraqi budget strike

Hundreds of the supporters of the Iraqi Sadrist Movement organised a strike in central Baghdad on Tuesday, calling on the government to pass the 2013 budget. Leader of the movement Muqtada al-Sadr told his followers to remain on strike until the budget was passed, dismissing a promise by Deputy Speaker Qusay al-Suhail to pass the budget in two days. Sheikh abdel-Hadi al-Mohammedawi, preacher of the Sadrist Movement, said that al-Sadr had asked the demonstrators to strike until the budget is legally approved. He added that the demonstrators would resume their strike in response to Sadr’s call. Al-Mohammedawi told Arabstoday that the demonstrations would grow late into Tuesday and early hours of Wednesday. Earlier, al-Suhail attempted to end the strike by promising the demonstrators that a firm decision on the Iraqi budget would be made in the next two days. However, al-Sadr's supporters ignored the promise and said they would resume their strike until the budget becomes law. On Monday, Iraqi Parliament Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi postponed the vote on the budget for the fourth time, to pave the way for accordance talks between National and Kurdistan coalition groups. Parliamentary sources told Arabstoday that Kurdistan Alliance had retreated from its agreement with the National Coalition on Sunday, delaying approval of the budget.