Topic: Shiite Factions

Violence erupted in Baghdad's Green Zone after powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr announced his retirement from politics. Rival Shiite factions engaged in heavy fighting involving gunfire and explosions, resulting in at least 20 deaths and hundreds of injuries. The political deadlock has left Iraq without a functional government for over a year as al-Sadr's supporters demand the dissolution of parliament and new elections to remove Iranian influence.