Iraq's prime minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi threatens to resign if 'chaos' continues

Iraqi caretaker prime minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi threatened to resign on Tuesday if the rival Shia militias continue to create upheavals and deepen the country's political crises.

Speaking in a press conference following Baghdad's tragic events, in which at least 23 people were killed and hundreds were wounded as rival groups battled it out on the streets of the Iraqi capital, the PM announced the formation of an investigation committee "to identify those who opened fire and killed protestors" despite clear orders to all Iraqi security forces to refrain from using live ammunition against demonstrators.

He also stressed the need to restrict the use of arms by only entities of the Iraqi state. "Those who were bombing the government’s area with mortars and rockets over the night should also be identified," he added.

The PM threatened to resign from Iraq’s top executive post if the rival Shia factions  "continue creating chaos".

Supporters of Iraq's powerful Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr began their withdrawal from Baghdad's Green Zone on Tuesday after he urged them to end a protest.

Tensions have soared in Iraq amid a political crisis as the sectarian governing system established by the US-UK invasion and occupation collapses.  Currently, the country has been without a new government, prime minister or president for months. 

The situation dramatically escalated Monday afternoon after Sadr's supporters stormed the government palace inside the Green Zone following their leader's announcement that he was quitting politics.

Sadr, a grey-bearded preacher with millions of devoted followers who once led a militia against the US and Iraqi government forces after the 2003 US-led overthrow of dictator Saddam Hussein, announced Monday his "definitive retirement" and said he had "decided not to meddle in political affairs".

Monday night and well into Tuesday morning, clashes raged between Sadr's supporters and the army and members of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), which are Tehran-backed paramilitary groups that have integrated into the Iraqi security forces.

On Tuesday morning, medics updated the toll of Sadr supporters killed to 23, with some 380 others injured - some with bullet wounds and others suffering tear gas inhalation.