HOLY CITY OF NAJAF, Iraq: Al-Marje Al-A’ala Sayyed Ali Husseini As-Sistani has said boosting national unity and achieving independence for Iraq are our targets.

He made his remarks while talking to a delegation of Sunni Ulemaa (clerics) from Kurdistan, Kirkuk, Baghdad, Takrit, Al-Ambaar and Diyala that called on him on Tuesday at his office in the holy city of Najaf.

In a press statement after the meeting, the clerics said: “We came to our teacher respected Al-Marje Ad-Dini Sayyed As-Sistani to discuss issues relating to Iraq…”

"Everybody's aim is to extinguish the fire of strife in our country. This is our call to everyone," said Sheikh Mohammad Talabani, head of the Clerics Association in Kurdistan.

Sheikh Jamaluddin Ad-Dabban, said As-Sistani asked him to give his regards to all Sunni scholars in the country. "We call for unity," Ad-Dabban said.

"Our aim is Iraq's unity. There is no difference between Sunnis and Shiias, you are our brothers rather from ourseleves,” a third cleric from the Kurdish city of Arbail, Sheikh Ali Al-Khafaji, quoted Al-Marje as saying.

“We call to unity and following of truth, and I repeat I’m servant to all. While those who oppose we call them towards guidance; everyone who utters ‘I bear witness that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His messenger’ his blood is haram (shedding his blood is illegal) for everyone,” Ayatullah As-Sistani said.

They also visited three other maraje in Holy Najaf namely: Sayyed Muhammad Said Al-Hakim, Sheikh Muhammad Ishaq Al-Fayadh and Sheikh Bashir An-Najafi.