BAGHDAD, Iraq: Lawmakers from the Iraqi Parliament's largest bloc said Al-Marje Al-A’ala Grand Ayatullah Sayyed Ali Al-Husseini As-Sistani withheld support Saturday for a US-backed plan to build a coalition across sectarian lines.

Members of the United Iraqi Alliance met with the Grand Ayatullah in the holy city of Najaf after traveling to the holy city over the past few days to seek his blessing for the coalition.

Some members of the alliance have sought a coalition that would include Kurds and Sunnis and sideline Muqtada As-Sadr. Lawmakers who attended the meeting with the Ayatullah said the spiritual leader opposed any move that would divide community.

"There are obstacles in the face of forming this coalition, because As-Sistani does not support it. So we will work to strengthen the alliance," said Hassan As-Sunnaid, of the Dawa Party of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

Ali al-Adeeb, also a Dawa Party member, said As-Sistani "does not support such blocs because they will break unity."

An official close to As-Sistani, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the cleric "will not bless nor support any new bloc or front. He only supports the unity."