Supporters of Iraqi cleric Moqtada Al Sadr stormed the government palace in Baghdad's Green Zone on Monday after the Shiite leader said he was abandoning politics.
Twenty-three protesters were reported to have been killed. Unconfirmed reports suggested that Mr Al Sadr had gone on hunger strike to press for an end to the violence.
At least seven shells fell in the high-security Green Zone, which houses government buildings and diplomatic missions, a security source told AFP on Monday.
It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the shelling, which was followed by the sound of automatic weapons from the zone.
The security source said Mr Al Sadr's supporters opened fire at the Green Zone from the outside, adding that security forces inside “were not responding”.
Tensions have soared amid an escalating political crisis that has left Iraq without a new government, prime minister or president for months.
About 350 protesters were hurt, some with bullet wounds and others suffering the effects of teargas, medics told AFP.
On Monday, witnesses said that Al Sadr loyalists and supporters of a rival Shiite bloc, the pro-Iran Co-ordination Framework, had exchanged fire.
The Framework condemned an “attack on state institutions”, urging the Sadrists to engage in “dialogue”.
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Smoke billows in the background in the capital Baghdad during an army-imposed nationwide curfew a day after 23 supporters of powerful Shiite leader Moqtada Al Sadr were shot dead during fighting in Baghdad's Green Zone. AFP -
Iraqi armoured security vehicles clash with Saraya Al Salam (Peace Brigade), the military wing affiliated with Mr Al Sadr, as fighting between rival Iraqi forces resumed in Baghdad. AFP -
An armed member of the Peace Brigade aims a rocket-propelled grenade during clashes with Iraqi security forces in Baghdad's Green Zone. AFP -
Armed members of the Peace Brigade during clashes in Baghdad's Green Zone. AFP -
A boy walks near the office of Badr Organisation, which was burnt by supporters of Mr Al Sadr in Baghdad. Reuters -
Members of Mr Al Sadr's Peace Brigade. Reuters -
Mr Al Sadr's fighters fire their weapons. Reuters -
Peace Brigade fighters near the Green Zone. Reuters -
Ready to fight, a member of the Peace Brigade is laden with ammunition in Baghdad. Reuters -
Sadrists gather during clashes with the Iraqi security forces. Reuters -
A supporter of Mr Al Sadr carries bullet casings and a spent shotgun shell in the Green Zone. AFP -
An Al Sadr supporter waves the Iraqi flag in Baghdad after the powerful Shiite cleric announced his retirement from politics. AFP -
Dozens of angry supporters of Mr Al Sadr stormed the Republican Palace, a ceremonial building in the fortified Green Zone. AFP -
Supporters of Mr Al Sadr help injured protesters during clashes with riot police in Baghdad. EPA -
The Iraqi army has announced a Baghdad-wide curfew. AFP -
Supporters of Mr Al Sadr assist protesters injured during clashes with security forces near the prime minister's office in Baghdad. EPA -
An injured supporter of Mr Al Sadr is given water during a protest in the Green Zone in Baghdad. Reuters -
Supporters of Mr Al Sadr gather in the Green Zone. AFP -
Iraqi police try to block the entrance to the Green Zone. AFP -
Supporters of Mr Al Sadr wave an Iraqi flag from the roof of the government palace during a demonstration in Baghdad. AP -
Mr Al Sadr's supporters swim amid a protest at the Republican Palace in the Green Zone in Baghdad. Reuters -
Mr Al Sadr's supporters make their feelings known through gestures inside the palace. Reuters -
Dozens of angry supporters of Mr Al Sadr gather inside the palace in the capital Baghdad's Green Zone shortly after he said he was quitting politics. AFP -
Supporters of the powerful cleric stormed the Republican Palace, a ceremonial building in the fortified Green Zone, a security source said. AFP -
Clashes occurred between the protesters and security troops inside the palace. AFP -
Iraqi security forces try to prevent protesters from entering the Federal Court during a demonstration in Baghdad. AP -
Since the end of July, Mr Al Sadr's followers have encamped around parliament, blocking access to critical government buildings. AP -
Supporters of Mr Al Sadr try to remove concrete barriers in the Green Zone area of Baghdad. AP -
Iraqi security forces called for calm after the protesters entered the Green Zone. AP -
Iraqi security forces announced a nationwide curfew starting at 3.30pm local time following the protests. AP
In response to the violence in the Iraqi capital, Emirates has cancelled flights to and from Baghdad.
Iraq's Civil Aviation Authority announced late on Monday that flights at Baghdad International Airport were still coming and going.
The army has been caught in the middle of the rivalry between Mr Al Sadr and the Co-ordination Framework — a political coalition linked to US-designated terrorist groups, including Kataib Hezbollah, which has been accused of killing coalition soldiers and Iraqi protesters.
The army announced a nationwide curfew from 7pm, as security forces patrolled the capital.
Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi called on Mr Al Sadr's supporters to withdraw from the Green Zone, where they have been camped for weeks to prevent the cleric's rivals from trying to form a government.
“The dangerous developments that took place in our dear Iraq today points to the serious consequences of the political differences,” Mr Al Kadhimi said in a statement issued by his office.
Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the President, called on Tuesday for calm and restraint among Iraqis and urged for all parties to proceed with dialogue following Monday’s violence.
“The stability of brotherly Iraq is an urgent Arab and regional demand, and there is no alternative to calm, restraint and constructive dialogue between Iraqis at this sensitive stage to get Iraq out of its crisis. Confrontation and violence are not in the interest of the Iraqis and the region,” Dr Gargash said in a tweet.
Mr Al Kadhimi called for restraint and said the country's political differences would damage state institutions.
He also ordered an investigation into the casualties, adding that “security or military forces, or armed men” were prohibited from opening fire on protesters.
Late on Monday evening, the prime minister took to Twitter.
“I value the call of His Eminence Sayyid Moqtada Al Sadr to stop the violence, as well as the call of Hajj Hadi Al Amiri, and all those who contribute to calm and preventing further violence. I call on all to assume the national responsibility for preserving Iraqi blood,” he said.
Mr Kadhimi later announced that he was chairing an “emergency meeting of security leaders to discuss recent events and the entry of demonstrators to government institutions”.
Iraq's official news agency confirmed late on Monday that Mr Kadhimi declared official working hours were cancelled on Tuesday because of the curfew, according to the General Secretariat of the Cabinet statement
The US urged calm amid the “disturbing” reports of unrest in Baghdad and denied rumours that it had evacuated its embassy, also in the area.
“The reports are false,” a State Department spokesman told The National. “As a matter of policy, we do not comment on matters involving internal security.”
Sadrists also stormed government buildings in the cities of Nasiriyah and Hillah south of Baghdad, an AFP correspondent and witnesses said.
Mr Al Sadr is said to have announced a hunger strike until the violence and use of weapons stops, Iraq's state news agency INA and state TV said on Monday.
Hassan Al Ethari, the head of the Sadrist parliamentary bloc, confirmed on Facebook that Mr Al Sadr had started a hunger strike.
“Removing the corrupt does not give anyone, no matter what, a justification for the use of violence from all sides,” Mr Al Ethari wrote.
There was no immediate confirmation from Mr Al Sadr's office.
