Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric condemns killings, kidnappings of protesters -representative

Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani on Friday condemned recent killings and kidnappings of protesters, urging the state to assert control over the use of weapons.

He called on the armed forces to remain professional, loyal to the state and free from foreign influence, a representative of Sistani said during a sermon on Friday in the holy city of Kerbala.