Iraq's Joint Operational Staff of the Security Forces has lifted curfews throughout the country following a call by popular Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr for his supporters to stop the protests, Al-Arabiya TV channel reported.

"The Joint Operating State of Iraq has lifted the curfew across the country," the channel reported.

Earlier, popular Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr, speaking at a press conference, called on his supporters to leave the protest sites within one hour.

In Baghdad and a number of other Iraqi provinces, fierce armed clashes between supporters of popular Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr and other pro-government Shiite movements as well as security forces continued until this hour, despite reports of the government attempting to negotiate with the Shiite opposition.

According to the latest figures from Iraqi medics, the death toll during clashes between protesters and security forces has reached 30 and more than 700 people were injured, including 110 security personnel.