Iraqi unrest kills 30; sparks fears of new civil war 

Baghdad: At least 30 people have been killed and hundreds more wounded after tensions have soared in Iraq amid a political crisis. 

Fighting between rival Iraqi forces raged for a second day on Tuesday with rocket fire echoing from Baghdad's Green Zone where at least 30 people—mostly supporters of powerful leader Moqtada Sadr were shot dead.  

The unrest sparked after Mr Sadr, one of Iraq's most influential figures, decided to quit politics. 

Iraq has been in a state of paralysis since October's inconclusive elections.

Mr Sadr's bloc won the most seats but could not agree on the formation of a new government with the second largest bloc.  

The fighting has been taking place between Mr Sadr's militia, known as the Peace Brigades, militias supported by Iran, and members of the Iraqi security forces. 

Much of it has been concentrated around the city's Green Zone, a heavily fortified area that houses government buildings and foreign embassies. 

Dutch embassy staff were forced to move to the German mission due to the clashes.

In response to the unrest, Iran has closed its borders with Iraq, and Kuwait has urged its citizens to leave the country immediately. 

A spokesperson for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he was alarmed by events and called for "immediate steps to de-escalate the situation".

And Mustafa al-Kadhimi, Iraq's caretaker prime minister - and Sadr ally - declared a nationwide curfew after the unrest spread to several other cities. 

He has suspended cabinet meetings and pleaded with Mr Sadr to intervene and stop the fighting. 

For now, Mr Sadr—a dominant figure for the past two decades— has announced a hunger strike until the violence and use of weapons by all sides stops.