BAGHDAD, Iraq: Al-Marjay Ad-Dini Al-Aa`la Ayatullah Sayyed Ali Husseini As-Sistani has urged the need of shoulder-to-shoulder unity, solidarity and cohesion among Islamic world in general and all Iraqis regardless of their religion in particular, saying Ahl`is Sunnah are not only our brethren rather ‘ourselves’.

In an imperative letter to Sunni leaders, Ayatullah As-Sistani stressed for spending all possible energies to further fortify national unity foundations on the basis of loyalty for heavenly and earthly values following the holy teachings of Chief of Messengers Prophet Muhammad (SW), his Ahl-ol Bayt (AS) and pious companions (RA), according to Wekalah Al-Akhbar Al-Iraqiyah (Iraq news agency).

The letter, which was delivered to the Sunni leaders through a high-ranking politician, came as a decisive reply to every heinous attempt aimed at creating rift in the ranks of Iraqis.

Meanwhile, Iraqi authorities said on Sunday they had discovered the bodies of 23 blindfolded and bound men shot multiple times in the head execution style in Baghdad's Sadr City.

The grisly discovery came as two separate drive-by shootings in Baghdad left a senior Industry Ministry official, his driver and a cleric Sheikh Qassem Al-Gharawi martyred.

Police Lt. Col. Shaker Wadi Al-Maliki said the slain men, most appearing to be in their early 20s, were discovered early Sunday wearing civilian clothes and lying in a shallow grave in a vacant lot.

Judging by the nature of the wounds and the condition of the bodies, police officials believed the men were shot either late Saturday or early Sunday.