Where the political chaos leads after the powerful and controversial Shiite leader Muqtada Al-Sadr announced he was stepping away from politics is hard to predict.

His supporters are still protesting on the streets, where there are continuing clashes with security services – at least 22 are dead.

The influential cleric’s sudden announcement saw hundreds of his followers take to the streets where they breached the Green Zone.

On Tuesday, he told loyalists to leave the government quarters within an hour, and minutes later some were seen leaving.

Political paralysis has gripped the country since elections last October, and a caretaker government is in place.

Mr Al-Sadr won the largest share of seats, but there are extraordinarily deep fissures with rival Shiite parties – loyal to Iran – who hold most of the other seats.

He had tried to form a coalition with minority parties, breaking with a tradition that government formation consists of the main political actors.

Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr calls on supporters to leave government quarter of Baghdad within one hour after protests

At least 15 killed after supporters of Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr storm government palace

Demonstrators breach Baghdad’s parliament in protest over PM nomination in Iraq

In doing so, he was attempting to push aside his main Shiite rival, the former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who is aligned with Iranian factions.

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Street protests are not unusual in Iraq, but there’s nervousness about where this unrest could lead.

Sectarian war ravaged the country between 2005 to 2008, this time the threat is intra-sectarian.

The spectre of further violence hangs heavy.

Last night Mr Sadr’s supporters forced their way into the Republican Palace where they celebrated in the swimming pool, posing for photos.

The cleric has urged his supporters to take to the streets before to protest against corruption and external interference from Iran and America.

But in many ways, this unrest is really a power play for the spoils that come from the levers of government.

It’s not a spontaneous people’s uprising.

Read more: Demonstrators breach Baghdad’s parliament in protest over PM nomination in Iraq

The United Nations is appealing for ‘restraint and de-escalation’ but what is happening in Iraq reflects the profound instability of a political system of government that was set up following the US led invasion in 2003.

It maybe that Mr Sadr’s withdrawal from politics is a bluff – he’s made similar announcements in the past.

But even if this is a gambit to strengthen his hand for an eventual return, Iraq is at a dangerous crossroads.

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