Iraq's top cleric calls for formation of new government

Iraq's leading Shi'ite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, urged Iraq's political parties on Friday to form a new government as soon as possible and urged authorities to respect protesters' right to express themselves.

Sistani, who delivered his message through a representative at Friday prayer in the holy city of Kerbala, reiterated calls to foreign powers to respect Iraq's sovereignty.