Iraq top court says it can't dissolve parliament amid crisis

BAGHDAD: Iraq's top court ruled Wednesday that it does not have the legal right to dissolve parliament, a much anticipated decision that raises the stakes in the country's unprecedented 11-month political crisis.

The ruling by the Supreme Federal Court states the court does not have the authority under Iraq's constitution to dissolve the legislature, which was a key demand by influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

Al-Sadr's bloc won most votes in parliamentary elections last October but he has been unable to form a majority government. His followers stormed the parliament in late July to prevent their rivals from Iran-backed Shiite groups from forming the government.

With ensuing rallies, clashes with security forces, counter-rallies and a sit-in outside parliament, the government formation process has stalled.

Al-Sadr has now been calling for the dissolution of parliament and early elections and has been in a power struggle with his Iran-backed rivals since the vote.

The decision by the court - which had delayed ruling on al-Sadr's demands amid concerns over more unrest - effectively rejects al-Sadr's demand and further deepens the stalemate between the cleric and his rivals. It puts the onus on Iraq's lawmakers , who could potentially assemble and dissolve the legislature, something al-Sadr rejects.

After the ruling, Iraqi security forces closed the gates to the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad - the seat of the government and the center stage for Iraq's political crisis - anticipating a reaction from al-Sadr's followers.