HOLY NAJAF, Iraq: Al-Marjae Ad-Dini Grand Ayatullah Sayyed Ali Al-Husseini As-Sistani has urged the need of unity in current sensitive circumstances.

Expressing his grave concern on assassinations of Al-Ulama Al-Mo’minin (believing clerics and religious scholars), killing of innocents and constant bomb attacks, Ayatullah As-Sistani said the present sensitive situation demands more harmony and unity as the enemies of Iraq desire to create cracks in unity of Muslims and disrupt measures being taken for stability and development of the country and the nation.

His statement came after a fresh spate of bombings killed nearly 40 people in Baghdad neighborhoods and claimed two of prominent clerics.

Tribal sheiks, meanwhile, have been begging Ayatullah As-Sistani to issue a fatwa, or edict, permitting them to go after radicals who kill their fellow brothers, according to Iraqis familiar with the meetings held at the Marje's home in the holy city of Najaf.

Ayatullah As-Sistani has refused to grant such permission, but has signaled his concern about the mounting tensions.

He told Shia and Sunni politicians who met him Monday at the holy city of Najaf that it was "unacceptable" from a religious viewpoint for Muslims to kill each other.