Thousands of supporters of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, held Friday prayers in Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone, displaying a new energy, in light of his opponents’ open declaration of his demand for early elections, but with conditions.

Thousands of demonstrators, al-Sadr supporters, gathered yesterday at Celebration Square, located in the Green Zone, to participate in Friday prayers.

Some of them took shelter under umbrellas from the scorching sun and the temperature exceeded 42 degrees Celsius, holding up Iraqi flags and pictures of al-Sadr as they walked down the long path leading to the square. A week ago, thousands of Sadr’s supporters camped inside Iraq’s parliament, located in the Green Zone along the Tigris River, which houses government and diplomatic headquarters.

Al-Sadr’s political opponents began protests against the naming of the prime minister’s office in the Coordination Structure.