‘US and Israel destroyed the EU,’ claims Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr

Powerful Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has warned of a fragmented European Union in the aftermath of the Brexit, accusing the US and Israel of destroying the bloc.

"The EU, with all its power, called on America and its spoiled son Israel to undermine the union," Sadr said in a statement issued Saturday and published by Arabic news site Elaph on Saturday, adding that Britain's vote to leave was "the first step towards undermining and weakening" the EU.

Sadr also said that the differences in opinion between the UK government and the British people about various matters, such as remaining or exiting the EU, show that the government does not know what the people's needs are.

"The government is in its ivory tower and very distant (from what the people want) although there's a system based on freedom and democracy looking after people," Sadr said.

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He also said that he does not expect Britain to be the last country to exit the EU, adding that other countries such as France and Germany may follow suit.

"These countries' exit will mark the union's end," he added.

Sadr also called on the EU not to submit or weaken under American pressures, “as the fragmentation of the EU benefits the US the most on the political and economic fronts.”

Commenting on David Cameron's resignation following the Brexit vote, Sadr said this was due to the British PM “failing to implement his electoral vows.”

Sadr's followers in Iraq have been staging protests demanding anti-corruption reforms since February. His rivals see in the demonstrations an attempt by the cleric to dictate his views to the rest of the political class.

(With Reuters)