10 dead after protesters storm Iraq's government palace

At least 10 people have died in clashes after supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr stormed the government palace. The unrest came after the cleric announced he was retiring from politics.

His announcement was followed by hundreds of his supporters rushing to the government palace, which houses the main offices of Iraq's caretaker Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi. Kadhimi said he was suspending all cabinet meetings until further notice. Protesters used ropes to pull down cement barriers leading to the seat of the government, prompting Iraq’s military to call for an immediate withdrawal from the Green Zone. The military urged protesters to practice self-restraint "to prevent clashes or the spilling of Iraqi blood," according to a statement. "The security forces affirm their responsibility to protect government institutions, international missions, public and private properties," the statement said. The army then announced it was imposing a 3:30 p.m. curfew for all of Baghdad, but that did little to deter al-Sadr's followers, who pushed into the Republican Palace chanting "the people want to overthrow the regime."

Violence spreads outside Green Zone

As the situation escalated, the curfew was later extended, with all of Iraq required to be indoors by 7 p.m. Witnesses told reporters that they heard live fire and saw security services use tear gas inside the fortified Green Zone. Outside the Green Zone government compounds and embassies, dozens of young men loyal to al-Sadr and supporters of a rival Shiite group, the pro-Iran Coordination Framework, hurled stones at each other in street clashes. Later, police and medical personnel said that at least ten people had died and that 85 were injured in the violence. There were also reports that protests had spread outside of Baghdad, including demonstrators blocking access to the airport in key port city of Umm Qasr, 560 km (350 miles) from the capital.

Despite winning the largest share of seats in last October's elections, a political impasse between al-Sadr and his Iran-linked Shiite rivals has given Iraq its longest run without a government. In June, he withdrew his lawmakers from the parliament after failing to form a government of his choosing. Since last month, his supporters have occupied parliament and held protests near government buildings. With the process of choosing a new president and prime minister halted, many fear that al-Sadr's supporters may escalate their protests, pushing the conflict-ravaged country into a new phase of instability.

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