Tens of thousands of supporters of the influential Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr have gathered in the Iraqi capital, calling for economic and political reforms to end corruption.

Sadr, a powerful cleric who opposes the main Shia bloc that controls the government, previously led sit-in protests in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone to demand Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi form a cabinet made up of technocrats. 

Sadr had given Abadi his backing on the condition that he would involve Sunnis in the government, stop corruption and appoint cabinet ministers with better qualifications.

"I want the prime minister to continue his reform plan with no fear of political pressure," he said.