Iraqi Shiite cleric al-Sadr calls for protests in front of Turkish Embassy

BAGHDAD

Supporters of Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr staged a protest in front of the Turkish Embassy in Baghdad on Oct. 17 after the cleric called for protests to demand that Turkish troops leave the Bashiqa camp in northern Iraq, which has caused a row between the two countries. 

“Get out, Get out, occupier!” and “Yes, yes, for Iraq,” chanted the followers of al-Sadr, The Associated Press reported.

Turkey says the troops are training Iraqi fighters to help retake Mosul from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and that they are there with the permission of the Iraqi government. Baghdad denies that it granted permission and has ordered the Turks to withdraw.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said on Oct. 17 that the fighters who were trained at the Bashiqa camp near Mosul were at the forefront of the Mosul operation.