Followers of Iraq's Sadr pray at Saddam-era parade ground

Supporters of Iraqi populist leader Moqtada al-Sadr gather for mass Friday prayer at Grand Festivities Square within the Green Zone, in Baghdad, Iraq August 5, 2022. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of followers of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr prayed on Friday at an iconic Baghdad military parade ground built by the late President Saddam Hussein, in yet another symbolic display of Sadr's sway over much of the Iraqi people.

Sadr has in the past week commanded his followers to storm Baghdad's heavily secured Green Zone, occupy parliament and pray together as he refuses to let his political rivals form a government 10 months after elections.