BAGHDAD - Iraq's prominent Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr called on Friday the country to have full control over weapons, and reaffirmed his earlier decision to boycott Iraq's upcoming parliamentary elections.

In a statement, al-Sadr called for dissolving militias and strengthening the army and police. He also emphasized the need to ensure Iraq's independence from any external influence, along with serious efforts toward reform and accountability for corruption.

In March, al-Sadr announced that he would not participate in the parliamentary elections in November due to the "persistent corruption" within the political process.

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Al-Sadr's Sadrist movement emerged as the biggest winner of the 2021 Iraqi parliamentary elections with 73 seats but failed to form a government.

In June 2022, al-Sadr ordered his followers to withdraw from the parliament amid the prolonged political deadlock, insisting on the parliament's dissolution and snap elections.