Iraqi cleric Sadr quits politics, supporters storm government palace

Gulf Today Report

In a surprise move on Monday Iraq's powerful cleric, Moqtada Al Sadr announced that he is quitting politics.

Moments after Sadr announced the decision, hundreds of his supporters stormed a government palace, a building inside highly-secured Green Zone of Baghdad that also houses diplomatic missions.

Fearing violence, the Iraqi army imposed a total curfew in Baghdad starting from 3:30pm.

Supporters of Moqtada Al Sadr protest inside the Republican Palace in the Green Zone in Baghdad on Monday. Reuters

According to reports, once inside the palace the protesters, some of them waving Iraqi flag, took selfies while resting on armchairs.

Some enjoyed the cool water s of the pool inside the palace.

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Political stalemate in the country has left it without a new government, prime minister or president.

Sadr, grey-bearded preacher, who once led Iraqi militias against US and Iraqi forces after the fall of Saddam Hussein, announced his decision to quit politics on his twitter handle.

In the tweet he said that he has decided not to interfere in political affairs.

He also announced closure of all the institutions linked to his Sadrist movement  except his father’s mausoleum.

His father was, assassinated in 1999.