HOLY CITY OF NAJAF, Iraq: The four Grand Marajay (top religious authorities) in the Center of Shiia World – Holy Najaf – have stressed the need for unity, restoration of peace and care for comfort of all Iraqis.

This was told by Iraq’s new Minister for Interior Affairs Baqer Bayan Jabar Solagh at a news conference in the holy city of Najaf after he held meeting on Monday with the four grand Marajay namely Ayatullah Sayyed Ali Al-Husseini As-Sistani, Ayatullah Ishaq Fayyaz, Ayatullah Sheikh Hafez Bashir Hussein An-Najafi and Ayatullah Sayyed Muhammad Said Al-Hakim.

Talking to reporters, Solagh said he had briefed all four Al-Marajay Ad-Diniyah (Grand Ayaat) on the security situation in the countryside and in Baghdad.

Ayatullah As-Sistani "stressed the need for national unity and insisted that the interior ministry should serve all Iraqis."

He said Ayatullah Ali As-Sistani has called for an investigation into the murder of 14 farmers belonging to Dalaimi tribe, the interior minister told adding that the grand Marjay severely condemned the killings.

The bodies of the 14 were found on wasteland Friday bearing signs of torture and summary execution.

The bodies of eight more civilians were discovered tortured and then executed south of Baghdad Monday.

"I have set up a commission of enquiry to deal with the case and summoned the Baghdad chief of police," said the minister.

Solagh said he had also ordered an investigation into riots that broke out following Friday prayers in Kufa in which five supporters of Moqtada Sadr were wounded by police bullets.

He told newsmen that the government has active anti-terrorism plans based on cooperation from neighboring States. He said infiltration still continued and that according to figures of the ministry number of terrorists climbed to 3,000.

The news conference was also attended by Holy Najaf Governor Asa’ad Sultan Mehdi Abu Kalal, his deputy Abdul Hussein Abtan and military officials.