IRAQ. UN ENVOY MEETS AL-SISTANI

Baghdad, 19 April (AKI) - Top UN envoy in Iraq, Ashraf Qazi, met Wednesdaywith leading Shiite Muslim cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, to discuss the impasse in forming a government of national unity. Talks covered the problems of instability, insecurity, inadequate public services and unemployment in Iraq, the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) said in a statement. The meeting, in the holy city of Najaf, came a day after the envoy issued a new public call to end the deadlock.


“He stressed the responsibility of all political, religious and community leaders to work together in creating an environment in which sectarian tensions could be reduced and a genuine political settlement reached" it added.

On Tuesday Qazi called on all religious, political and community leaders to ensure restraint by their followers and to refrain from sheltering those who have engaged in criminal behaviour, after prolonged violence in the Adhamiya quarter of Baghdad.

The envoy also met with the governor of Najaf, As’ad Abu Gelal, and stressed the importance of prioritising humanitarian, reconstruction and development projects in the governorate.
AKI

Why don't they just declare Ayatollah Sistani supreme leader of Iraq already and get it over with.