Supporters of the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr stormed the Iraqi parliament building in the capital Baghdad on Wednesday evening, protesting the nomination of the Coordination Framework bloc's Mohammed al-Sudani for the position of prime minister two days ago.

An unnamed security source told Agence France-Presse that protesters "stormed the parliament" after security forces had tried to stop them using tear gas.

The Iraqi News Agency confirmed the protesters' entry into the parliament building.

Thousands of al-Sadr's supporters had taken to the streets today in massive demonstrations, which included activists associated with what is known as the October 2019 Revolution, and they managed to storm the heavily fortified Green Zone in the capital Baghdad, where government headquarters and diplomatic missions are located.

The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, called in a statement published on the official account of his office for protesters to "commit to peacefulness, preserve public and private property, and follow the instructions of the security forces responsible for their protection according to regulations and laws.

He also demanded their "immediate withdrawal from the Green Zone."

Al-Kadhimi added that "the security forces are committed to protecting state institutions, international missions, and preventing any breach of security and order."