Iraqi cleric urges politicians to solve crisis

[February 03, 2012]  BAGHDAD (AP) -- An aide to Iraq's most prominent Shiite cleric says the leader is urging politicians to make concessions to solve the country's ongoing political crisis.

Ahmed al-Safi, who often speaks for Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, says that the cleric believes that Iraq's leaders are taking the country "into the unknown."

He spoke during a Friday sermon in the holy city of Karbala.

The country has been plunged into a political crisis after the Shiite-led government issued an arrest warrant for the Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi on terrorism charges.

The crisis was partially resolved when lawmakers from the country's largest Sunni-backed bloc ended a boycott of Parliament on Tuesday, but the bloc's ministers continue to boycott Cabinet meetings.

[Associated Press]

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