Baghdad, 29 August 2022 (dpa/MIA) - Followers of Iraq's influential cleric Moqtada al-Sadr have stormed Baghdad's government palace, which houses the office of the prime minister, shortly after the Shiite cleric said he will retire from politics. The developments deepen the current political impasse in the country, as it comes one month after Sadrist protesters stormed the parliament building. The legislature's sessions have been suspended since then. In a statement on his Twitter account, al-Sadr announced that he was quitting politics and closing his offices and institutions, except religious ones. "I announce final retirement [from politics]," the Shiite populist cleric said. "If I die or get killed, I ask for your prayers." Witnesses said Sadrist protesters headed to Baghdad's Green Zone shortly after that and began to remove concrete barriers to allow more people to enter the area, despite a heavy security presence. Some carried pictures of al-Sadr, and others chanted: "The people want to overthrow the regime." A video shared on social media showed Sadrist protesters entering the government palace, while chanting "peaceful, peaceful." A demonstrator told dpa that protesters have been wandering across the palace halls and offices, while others went for a swim at a pool outside the palace. The Iraqi military announced a curfew across Baghdad that went into effect at 3:30 pm (1230 GMT). It did not deter al-Sadr's followers. Al-Sadr announced he was quitting in 2014, but he remains influential in the political scene. He has not held any political positions, but the Sadrist bloc, affiliated with him, won the largest number of seats in last year's elections. But they did not have the majority needed to form a government. As political forces failed to form a new government or choose a president more than 10 months following the parliamentary elections, al-Sadr told his lawmakers to quit parliament and has been calling for early elections. He has many followers and can mobilize hundreds of thousands across the country, which could lead to deadly violence if rival groups also mobilize protests. Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi called on protesters to withdraw from the Green Zone, after their presence prompted him to suspend all cabinet meetings until further notice. Al-Kadhimi also urged al-Sadr to help in calling on his followers to withdraw from government buildings.