Hundreds of Iraqis staged a protest outside Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone on Friday.

The protesters took to streets upon a call by influential Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al Sadr, disregarding the Iraqi government's rejection to stage the demonstration.

They demanded measures to eliminate corruption.

Sadr had issued a statement on Thursday saying his movement would ignore the ban but also calling on his supporters to refrain from violence in dealing with the security forces. 

Sadr is seen as a nationalist with fewer ties to neighbouring Iran than many of the country's other leading Shia politicians.

Source : MENA