Iraq's Top Shi'ite Cleric Calls for End of Sectarian Violence

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By VOA News
20 July 2006

Iraq's top Shi'ite Muslim cleric has called on Iraqis to unite and warned sectarian violence could destroy the country.

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani urged religious and political leaders, tribal chiefs and others to exert maximum efforts to stop the killing. He says sectarian violence surged after the February bombing of a Shi'ite shrine in Samarra.

The Ayatollah issued his statement Thursday, a day after U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad and U.S. coalition commander General George Casey called on Iraqi leaders to pursue reconciliation and help end sectarian violence.

http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-07-20-voa12.cfm