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Iraq's Top Shi'ite Cleric Urges Selection of New PM With No Outside Ties

Edward Yeranian

   CAIRO - Iraq's top Shi'ite religious leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali
   al-Sistani, called on the country's political leaders Friday not to
   choose a new prime minister with ties to outside countries, ostensibly
   referring to Iran and the U.S.

   Iraqi Shi'ite worshipers gathered for Friday prayers in the holy city
   of Karbala as Sheikh Abdel Mehdi Karbalaie, a top spokesman Sistani,
   urged the country's political class to heed the demands of protesters
   and choose a new prime minister free from outside ties or any political
   party.

   Iraq's Shi'ite religious leadership "hopes that a new prime minister
   and a new government will be chosen within the
   constitutionally-designated period, according to the demands of
   citizens and with no outside interference," he said.

   Karbalaie added that the Shi'ite leadership, known as "marja'aya" in
   Arabic, is "not taking any sides or playing any role in the political
   discussions." Additionally, he insisted that no political party or
   faction try to "use the Shi'ite leadership's banner" to claim
   legitimacy over any other.

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