Iraqi populist Muslim scholar Muqtada al-Sadr has urged his supporters to continue their sit-in inside the national parliament in Baghdad until his demands, which include the dissolution of parliament and early elections, are met.

The Shia Muslim leader made the remarks in a televised address from Najaf on Wednesday. His words clearly could prolong a political deadlock that has kept Iraq without an elected government for nearly 10 months.

Thousands of al-Sadr’s supporters stormed Baghdad’s Green Zone, which houses government buildings and foreign missions, last weekend and took over the empty parliament building. The supporters have been holding a sit-in since then.

Al-Sadr supporters have set up an encampment with tents and food stalls surrounding parliament.