Two killed as Iraq's powerful Sadr quits politics and clashes erupt
India Today
A decision by Iraq's powerful Shi'ite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to quit politics over a political deadlock prompted clashes.
Two people were killed in Baghdad on Monday after a decision by Iraq's powerful Shi'ite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to quit politics over a political deadlock prompted clashes between his supporters and backers of Iran-backed rivals.
Young men loyal to Sadr who took to the streets in protest at the cleric's move skirmished with supporters of Tehran-backed groups. They hurled rocks at each other outside Baghdad's Green Zone, which is home to ministries and embassies.
Gunfire echoed across central Baghdad, reporters said. At least some of the shots appeared to come from guns being fired into the air, although the source of all the gunfire was not immediately clear in a nation awash with arms.
In addition to two people killed, 19 people were injured, police and medical workers said.
The clashes took place hours after Sadr announced he was withdrawing from politics, which prompted his supporters, who had been staging a weeks-long sit-in at parliament in the Green Zone, to demonstrate and storm the main cabinet headquarters.
Iraq's army declared a curfew from 3:30 p.m. (1230 GMT) and urged the protesters to leave the Green Zone.
During the stalemate over forming a new government, Sadr has galvanised his legions of backers, throwing into disarray Iraq's effort to recover from decades of conflict and sanctions and its bid to tackle sectarian strife and rampant corruption.
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