BAGHDAD, Iraq: Husseiniyaat and all mosques in Zubayr, a town in southern Iraq, were closed on Friday as well on the call of Marje Al-Aala Sayyed Ali As-Sistani.

Ayatullah As-Sistani had issued an edict to close all mosques in the town for three days from Thursday through Saturday to protest killings of an imam Sheikh Khaled Ali Obeid As-Saadoun and two of his associates and other attacks that have taken place against religious sites.

Sheik Mohammed Falak, As-Sistani's representative in Zubayr, said in a statement the decree will show "solidarity" with all Iraqi Shia-Sunni brethren and express condolences over a series of attacks against them.

Earlier, Shia and Sunni tribal leaders, along with US military officials, took part in a roundtable meeting in Baghdad aimed at discussing ways to end widespread violence. Later they offered joint prayer led by Sayyed Hussein As-Sadr.