Fallujah TV in Iraq reported the four senior Shia religious leaders in the holy city of Najaf, led by Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, agreed on bringing about change in the elections after all the cruelty and dictatorship imposed by Maliki’s party (Dawa party) and also after Maliki’s monopolizing of power and control over the country’s national wealth.
Media outlets affiliated to the State of Law coalition and Dawa party in response lashed at senior religious leader Ayatollah Bashir al-Najafi, the number two figure in Iraq’s Shia community, who issued a fatwa forbidding voting for Maliki to become prime minister for a third term.
Maliki is in hysteric state after this fatwa and reports indicate there have been serious disputes between him and Adnad al-Asadi. Iraqi Oil Minister Hossein al-Shahrestani, also one of Maliki’s deputies, pulled out of the State of Law coalition in response to this fatwa.
Ayatollah Sistani strongly condemned insults against Ayatollah al-Najafi after he gave his opinion regarding the elections.

 
Ayatollah Bashir al-Najafi has been known to voice strong criticism against Maliki during the past years.