The Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr demanded compensation from the United States (US) for the damage caused by the occupation of Iraq and called on Iraqis to file legal complaints, in a statement on Wednesday, the deadline for American forces to end their 12-year presence in the country.

In the same statement he hailed the “independence of Iraq”, according to Middle East Eye, and said the US and “neighbouring countries” must refrain from interfering in Iraqi affairs.