Following violent demonstrations that saw more than 20 deaths, Muqtada al-Sadr, an influential Iraqi cleric, has called on his supporters to leave Baghdad’s government Quarter.
After Mr. Al-Sadr declared he was quitting Iraqi politics, and ordered the closing of his party offices, hundreds stormed the Green Zone in .
A number of demonstrators were injured by gunfire, while a dozen others were hurt by tear gas or altercations with police, according to medical officials.
Officials claim that at least 22 people were killed.
Loyalists were told by Mr al-Sadr to leave the government quarter in an hour and ten minutes.
In a televised speech, the cleric stated that “this is not a revolution.” He made the remarks following pleas for peace and restraint from officials in Iraq and the United Nations.
A nationwide curfew was declared in response to the unrest at 7pm. It was lifted on Tuesday.
His party, Mr al-Sadr, won the largest number of seats in the October parliamentary elections but not enough to form a majority government.
The country ended up in political chaos after Mr. al-Sadr refused to negotiate with Iran-backed Shiite rivals. He also pulled out of the talks.
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His resignation appears to have been in response to the retirement Shiite spiritual leader Ayatollah Kadhim al-Haeri. Many of his supporters follow him.
Hundreds of protestors climbed down the cement barriers at the government palace and broke its defenses. Many of them ran into the marbled halls of the building during Monday’s demonstrations.
Photographs showed many protesters swimming in the palace pool. Some held up pictures of Mr al-Sadr.
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