Whitehouse denies U.S. Embassy personnel evacuating from Iraq

(Baghdad)  --  The White House is pushing back on reports U.S. Embassy personnel in Iraq are being evacuated after violent clashes escalate in Baghdad.  Today, White House official John Kirby said the administration is concerned about the violence growing in Iraq, but swatted down earlier reports that U.S. personnel were being airlifted out.  This comes after a prominent Shiite cleric announced today he was stepping down from politics.  There's video circulating of the cleric's supporters storming the Iraqi government palace.  The Iraqi military has announced a national curfew.