Protesters storm presidential palace (VIDEOS)

Muqtada al-Sadr’s followers occupied the building after the influential Shi’ite cleric announced his retirement from politics

Hundreds of followers of Muqtada al-Sadr stormed Iraq’s presidential palace in Baghdad on Monday, after the Shi’ite cleric announced his resignation from politics. Military reinforcements have been sent to the palace and a curfew has been put in place.

The protesters made their way to the Republican Palace immediately after al-Sadr announced his “final withdrawal” from politics. After tearing down cement barriers outside the lavish building, the protesters made their way inside, where they chanted slogans in support of the cleric.

Palace security was unable to control the mass of demonstrators.

Drama in #Iraq: Shortly after #Muqatda_al-Sadr announced his retirement from political life, his supporters tore down the concrete barriers around the presidential palace in #Baghdad. pic.twitter.com/XFjNxvxpnD

— AbuAliEnglish (@AbuAliEnglishB1) August 29, 2022

Riots inside the Presidential Palace. #Iraq #Baghdad pic.twitter.com/RxAfPffOKm

— Tammuz Intel (@Tammuz_Intel) August 29, 2022

Military reinforcements were soon called in, and riot police used water cannons to keep further crowds of protesters away from the palace. Some of those already inside took the opportunity to swim in the palace’s pool, footage circulating on social media showed. Iraq’s Joint Operations Command issued a citywide curfew shortly after the breach of the palace.