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Kuwait urges its citizens in Iraq to leave the country
The Kuwaiti Embassy in Iraq urged its citizens in Iraq to leave the country, Kuwait's state news agency (KUNA) reported late on Monday (August 29).
The embassy asked those wishing to travel to Iraq to postpone their plans, following the eruption of clashes between rival Shia groups.
At least 12 al-Sadr protesters have reportedly been shot dead and 270 of protesters were injured on Monday after supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr stormed Iraq's government palace shortly after the influential Shiite cleric announced he was withdrawing from politics.
Supporters of al-Sadr filled lavish waiting rooms in the palace and chanted slogans in support of the cleric.
Shots were fired in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone that houses government buildings, as well as diplomatic missions, an Agence France-Presse (AFP) correspondent said, as tensions soared amid an escalating political crisis that has left Iraq without a new government, prime minister or president for months.
Iraq's military swiftly announced a city-wide curfew for civilians and vehicles on Monday to quell rising tensions and the possibility of clashes.
Meanwhile, al-Sadr was later on Monday said to have announced a hunger strike until the violence and use of weapons stops, Iraq's state news agency INA and state TV reported.
Al-Sadr said earlier Monday he was quitting politics and closing his institutions in response to an intractable political deadlock, a decision that could fuel instability.
Curfew declared in Iraqi capital as cleric’s supporters storm presidential palace
"I've decided not to meddle in political affairs. I therefore announce now my definitive retirement," said al-Sadr, a longtime player in the war-torn country's political scene, though he himself has never directly been in government.
He made the announcement on Twitter, where he added that "all the institutions" linked to his Sadrist movement will be closed, except the mausoleum of his father, assassinated in 1999, and other heritage facilities.
His latest statement came two days after he said "all parties" including his own should give up government positions in order to help resolve the monthslong political crisis.
levantnews-agecies
