Heavy gunfire rocks Iraq’s Green Zone amid violent protests

Iraqi security forces fire tear gas on the followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr inside the government palace grounds, in Baghdad, Iraq (Hadi Mizban/AP)

Supporters of a prominent Iraqi Shiite cleric fired rocket-propelled grenades into Iraq’s Green Zone as machine gun fire crackled overhead on Tuesday, deepening the political chaos gripping the nation.

Those backing influential cleric Muqtada al-Sadr fired into the Green Zone, where it appeared Iraqi security forces were firing back at them.