Iraq: Senior cleric rejects violence against protests

BAGHDAD

Prominent Shia cleric Ali al-Sistani on Friday expressed his "categorical" rejection of using force to break up anti-government sit-ins, urging the speedy formation of a government trusted by the people.

Sistani, during a Friday prayer in the city of Karbala, reiterated his condemnation of the use of violence against peaceful demonstrators, including assassinations and kidnappings, expressing his "unequivocal rejection of any attempt that tried to break up peaceful sit-ins using violence and force."

He also expressed his rejection of "attacks by some security forces and government agencies, as well as the acts of sabotage, and threats against some educational and service institutions."

He also urged fresh parliamentary elections and respect for the popular will regardless of the result.

Iraq has been roiled by mass protests since early October over poor living conditions and corruption, forcing Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi to resign.

More than 500 people have been killed and 17,000 injured in the protests, according to Iraq's commission.

The prominent Shia cleric described the so-called "Deal of the Century" -- released Tuesday by U.S. President Donald Trump -- as "unjust," saying it sought to "legitimize the occupation of more usurped Palestinian lands."

Sistani also affirmed his stance "with the oppressed Palestinian people in their adherence to their right to restore their occupied lands and establish their independent state," calling on Arabs, Muslims and all the free people of the world to support the Palestinian cause.

On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump released his plan to end the Israeli-Palestinian dispute at the White House alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with no Palestinian officials present.

The so-called peace plan unilaterally annuls previous UN resolutions on the Palestinian issue and suggests giving Israel almost everything it demanded.