Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazemi interrupted his visit to Egypt due to protests outside the Supreme Judicial Council in Baghdad, RIA Novost reported, citing a statement from the office of the Iraqi head of government.

The Iraqi head was attending a summit of several Arab leaders in Egypt's El Alamein, which began yesterday.

"On Tuesday morning, Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazemi, in light of developments in the country and to directly monitor the performance of the security forces of their duties to protect the judiciary and the state, interrupted his visit to Egypt and returned to Baghdad," the statement said.

Earlier, influential Shiite politician Muqtada al-Sadr, whose supporters continue to protest in the Iraqi parliament, called on the country's Supreme Judicial Council to dissolve the assembly. The judicial body responded by refusing to do so.

Today, the Sadrists began an "open strike" outside the main building of the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council. Following this, the judiciary announced the suspension of work.

Recall that Iraq is in a state of political crisis. After the parliamentary elections held in October 2021, the political forces of the country failed to elect a new president of the republic and to form a government.