Doug Stanglin

USA TODAY

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi said Saturday that security had been restored in Baghdad but called on demonstrators who stormed the capital's heavily fortified Green Zone and broke into parliament to return to "designated protest areas."

The prime minister issued the appeal on Twitter after hours of rowdy protests by hundreds of people chanting and waving Iraqi flags in the highly protected zone that houses government ministries, parliament and foreign embassies, including the U.S. embassy.

Security forces generally appeared to maintain restraint amid the chaos, but did use tear gas against crowds at one entrance to the Green Zone, according to the Associated Press.

Authorities also declared a state of emergency as protesters breached barriers and broke windows of cars belonging to members of parliament.

Supporters of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr have been holding rallies, protests and sit-ins outside the walls of the Green Zone for months to demand political reforms, particularly in support of Al-Abadi's attempt to replace politically appointed ministers with nonpartisan technocrats.

The goal in ending the parties' "quota system," which divides power between Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds, would be to reduce rampant bribery and embezzlement. The quota system also reserves the post of president for a Kurd and of prime minister for a Shiite.

Iraq has been mired in a political crisis for months, hindering the government’s ability to combat the Islamic State — which still controls much of the country’s north and west — or address a financial crisis largely caused by the plunge in global oil prices.

“The political sides want to suppress the reform movement,” Al-Sadr said at a news conference earlier Saturday, describing the “reform movement as having only the interest of people in its core.”

He added: “(The reform movement) is for God, the will of people and Sadr has zero interest in it.”

The pent-up anger erupted after lawmakers on Saturday again failed to reach a quorum to take up new ministerial appointments. It is the first time that demonstrators, despite months of protests in the Iraqi capital, have breached the zone, the AP reports. ​

Cellphone video uploaded to social media showed dozens of young men running through the halls of parliament, chanting slogans in support of Shiite cleric Muqtadaal-Sadr and calling for the government to disband, according to the Associated Press.

“We are all with you (al-Sadr),” one group of men yelled as they entered the building’s main chamber, the AP reported.

“You are not staying here! This is your last day in the Green Zone,” shouted one protester as thousands broke into the fortified area in central Baghdad, the AFP news agency reports.

Iraq security authorities declared a state of emergency in Baghdad as a result of the demonstrations, said Brig. Gen. Saad Mann, a spokesman for the Iraqi military.

"All gates that lead to Baghdad are closed. No one is allowed to enter into Baghdad, only those who want to leave Baghdad can do so," he added.

Iraq’s elite counterterrorism forces, who in the past have been called on to reinforce security in the capital, largely let the crowds roam freely, the AP reports.

Sabah al-Numan, spokesman for the counterterrorism forces, said at one point that “we still view this as a demonstration” and “aren’t taking any part in this as it’s not something regarding terrorism.”

He added, however, that if the unrest escalates his forces may need to intervene to “protect the legitimacy of the government.”