AP, 1 Aug 2014 — Iraq’s most influential Shiite cleric appealed to Iraqi politicians on Friday not to make themselves “an obstacle” in the country’s transition as the deadline looms for selecting the next prime minister.
The remarks by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, delivered by his spokesman, were another indirect appeal by the cleric to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to step down.
“The big challenges facing Iraq require that the next government command national and broad acceptance … to face the crises that are hitting the country,” spokesman Ahmed al-Safi quoted the reclusive al-Sistani as saying.
“No one should make himself an obstacle in achieving national consensus,” al-Sifi added during the sermon in the southern Shiite city of Kabala.
Al-Maliki, who has led the country since 2006, has insisted he remain in the post for a third four-year term.
But the Sunnis have long accused al-Maliki of marginalizing their community, and even many of his Shiite and Kurdish allies say he has monopolized power. Iraq’s newly-elected president, Fouad Massoum, is required to select a prime minister from the largest political bloc by next Friday.
Al-Sistani’s appeal came as the United Nations said that more than 1,737 people were killed in Iraq in July, making it one of the deadliest months of the year