Hundreds of followers of an Shiite cleric stormed Iraq's government palace on Monday shortly after he announced he was withdrawing from politics, further deepening an unprecedented political crisis.
Muqtada al-Sadr's followers stormed the Republican Palace, a key meeting place for Iraqi heads of state and foreign dignitaries, for the first time. On July 30, they stormed the parliament building to deter al-Sadr's rivals from forming a government.
Iraq's military swiftly announced a city-wide curfew for civilians and vehicles on Monday to quell rising tensions and the possibility of clashes.
Al-Sadr's protesters filled lavish waiting rooms in the palace and chanted slogans in support of the cleric.
