Iraq’s top cleric calls for formation of new government

Iraq's leading Shi'ite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, urged Iraq's political parties on Friday to form a new government as soon as possible, and urged authorities to respect protesters' right to express themselves.

He delivered his message through a representative at Friday prayer in the holy city of Kerbala, reiterated calls to foreign powers to respect Iraq's sovereignty.

Sistani, who comments on politics only in times of crisis and wields great influence over Iraq's Shi'ite majority, urged reform and a new government as soon as possible.

Under the government of caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, who said he would quit in November, security forces and unidentified gunmen believed to be linked to powerful Iran-backed militias killed nearly 450 anti-establishment protesters.

REUTERS

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