The powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr gave his supporters, who have been clashing with rival pro-Iranian Shiite factions and the army since yesterday, in Baghdaddeadline of 60 minutes to leave the Green Belt of their capital Iraqthreatening that otherwise he would disown them.

According to footage broadcast by Iraqi television, Sadr’s supporters have already begun to leave the green zone.

“I apologize to the Iraqi people, the only people affected by these events,” Sadr said at a press conference from his stronghold of Najaf in central Iraq.

“It is no longer revolutionary, because it has lost its peaceful character,” the priest added. “It is forbidden to shed Iraqi blood,” he stressed.

Since last Monday, when Sadr announced his final retirement from politics, the Peace Brigades, an armed group under his command, have clashed with Hashd al-Shaabi, a pro-Iranian paramilitary group that has joined the regular forces and the military.

At last count, 23 Sadr supporters were killed in these clashes.

Iran: closes border with Iraq

Iran has closed its border with Iraq and urged its citizens to avoid traveling to the country, a senior official said amid an outbreak of violence after influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr announced he was leaving politics.

Millions of Iranians visit the Iraqi city of Karbala every year for the Arbain religious holiday, which marks the end of 40 days of mourning for the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Imam Hussein. This year, Arbain falls on September 16-17.

“The border with Iraq was closed. For security reasons, Iranians should avoid traveling to Iraq until further notice,” Deputy Interior Minister Majid Mirahmadi was quoted as saying by state television.

State television said Iran had suspended all flights to Iraq until further notice due to ongoing unrest.

“We are trying to arrange an emergency flight to bring back Iranians from Iraq and Baghdad who are currently at the airport. We hope to remove them today,” state television quoted a senior civil aviation official as saying.

^{According to REUTERS, AFP, APE-MPE}