Abadi opens Baghdad’s fortified ‘Green Zone’ to public

BAGHDAD — Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi declared the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad open to all citizens on Sunday, part of a reform drive prompted by protests demanding greater transparency and openness.

The 10-square-kilometre Green Zone on the bank of the Tigris River has been largely off limits to ordinary Iraqis due to security concerns since the 2003 US invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein.

The zone, which houses government buildings and foreign embassies including that of the United States, has come to symbolise the isolation of Iraq’s rulers from citizens and also causes considerable traffic disruption in the city of 7 million people.

Checkpoints and concrete barriers have for years blocked bridges and highways leading into the zone, which once housed the headquarters of the US occupation and before that one of Saddam’s palaces.

“Opening the Green Zone is one of the procedures we promised our people. We are moving ahead with our reforms and we will not step back,” Abadi wrote on his Twitter page.

The move comes amid a wave of protests by Iraqis in Baghdad and many southern cities calling for the provision of basic services, the trial of corrupt politicians and the shakeup of a system riddled with graft and incompetence.

Abadi’s government has eliminated senior government posts and cut politicians’ security details and perks in an effort to cut wasteful state spending and appease public anger over poor governance.

Security officials said two entrances to the Green Zone had been opened to ordinary people and said army special forces would handle the task of maintaining security.

“Army special forces in coordination with Baghdad’s security operation will make sure security will be maintained to prevent any terrorist attacks,” Iraqi interior ministry spokesman Brigadier General Saad Maan, said.

Despite the concrete barriers protecting it, the Green Zone has been a regular target for bombings over the years.