Baghdad (AsiaNews/Agencies)- Form a united front against the violence of the Sunni militias and establish a new government able to help Iraq to overcome sectarian barriers. This is the appeal launched yesterday to the population by Grand ayatollah Ali al-Sistani (Shiite), who once more is asking for the defense of the Iraqi nation in all its components.
Released by his representative Ahmed al-Safi in the sacred city of Karbala, the message of the religious leader follows the United States' decision to help the Baghdad government "in the fight against terrorists," but without going back to fight in Iraq.
Over the past 10 days, the Sunni militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS, of a jihadist-style formation) have captured large chunks of territory in the North and West of the country. Now they are heading in the direction of Baghdad. In his message al-Sistani stressed that "if we do not fight and do not expel ISIS from Iraq, tomorrow all of us will be sorry, when it will no longer have any meaning."
For this reason, added the Grand ayatollah, "the next government will have to be effective and avoid the mistakes of the past". His words seem to refer to Nouri al Maliki, premier since 2006 and who has returned from a new success at the polls on April 30, though without an absolute majority.
Many are unhappy with the actions of Maliki, judged unable to hold together the different souls of the country, having marginalized the Sunni component from the government.