HOLY CITY OF NAJAF, Iraq: Holy Najaf Marjaiyah has called for Iraq's Prime Minister-designate Nuri Al-Maliki to dismantle the deadly militias, disarm them, wipe out violence, give priority to facilitate Iraqi people and work for their interests and betterment.

Al-Maliki held talks with Maraje namely Grand Ayatullah Sayyed Ali As-Sistani and Grand Ayatullah Sayyed Muhammad Said Al-Hakim in the holy city of Najaf on Thursday as he set out to form a national unity government.

Ayatullah Sistani told Al-Maliki that weapons should be in the hands of the government alone.

"Weapons must be in the hands of government security forces that should not be tied to political parties but to the nation," Sistani was quoted as saying in a statement released after the meeting.

Ayatullah Sistani also offered a broad roadmap to Maliki for the formation of the new national unity government.

According to Sistani, "the first task for the government is fighting insecurity and putting an end to the terrorist acts that threaten innocents with death and kidnapping."

He added that the new cabinet needed "capable and honest people who have a good reputation and care about national interests, not personal, religious or sectarian interests."

Ayatullah Al-Hakim urged the need to end sufferings of oppressed Iraqi people and stressed for stability and development of Iraq.