Hundreds of supporters of Shi’ite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr have stormed the Iraqi parliament in protest at MPs’ failure to convene for a vote on overhauling the government.<br /><br /> Amid what appeared to be a festive atmosphere, some chanted “the cowards ran away!” in reference to the absent lawmakers. <br /><br /> They have been demonstrating for weeks, heeding their leader’s call to put pressure on the prime minister to act on promises of reform. <br /><br /> Earlier, the protesters broke into the heavily-fortified Green Zone housing government buildings including the parliament, as well as foreign embassies. Western compounds were locked down. <br /><br /> A guard at a checkpoint said the protesters were not searched before entering – although an armed group loyal to Sadr was said to have made some rudimentary checks.<br /><br /> Sadr’s fighters once controlled significant parts of the city and helped defend it from the so-called Islamic State.<br /><br /> Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi wants to replace some ministers – chosen to bal
