Ahmed al-Safi
Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric suspends weekly political sermons
Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric said on Feb. 5 he would no longer deliver regular weekly sermons about political affairs, which for years have been a source of guidance for Iraqi politicians and his millions of followers.
Top Iraq cleric says lack of new government "regrettable failure"
The Iraqi parliament's inability to agree on a new government in its first session was a "regrettable failure", Iraq's most powerful Shi'ite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, said in a Friday sermon delivered by his aide.