Shiite cleric: Iraq impasse exceeds reasonable, acceptable limits

Sep 3, 2010, 15:42 GMT

Karbala, Iraq - An influential Iraqi Shiite cleric called on the country's parties to end the 'unacceptable' stalemate that has prevented them from forming a new government following the March election.

The deadlock was affecting the security, economic and social situations, Sheikh Abdel-Mahdi al-Karbalaei told thousands of people during the traditional Friday sermon.

'The delay in forming the Iraqi government and the failure of the political blocs to reach a common understanding to form a government has exceeded all reasonable and acceptable limits,' said al- Karbalaei, a confidant of the revered religious leader Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.

The imam, who has been increasingly using his sermon during Friday prayers to press the political parties to end their feuds, urged politicians to 'seek advice to assess their performance and listen to the concerns of people.'

'We observed that people are frustrated by how the political blocs act and by not reaching the desired result, because the political situation will affect the security, economic and social situations,' said al-Karbalaei.

Over 200 civil societies organizations have planned a sit-in for Tuesday in front of the parliament in Baghdad, Hanaa Adwar, chairperson of the al-Amal organization said. She said the groups planned to protests against the delays in forming a new cabinet.

Nearly six months have passed since Iraqis went to the polls, but talks between the main political blocs remain in disarray amid disagreement over who should head the new government.

No group won an outright majority in the March 7 election and all attempts to form a ruling coalition have failed. The new parliament has since held only one session, which lasted just 20 minutes.

US Vice President Joe Biden was in Iraq earlier this week and met with the heads of the all major parties, urging them to expedite the formation of a new government so that the country could move forward.