This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6201031.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Iraq Shias set to meet top cleric Iraq Shia press for Sadr return
(about 17 hours later)
Iraq's Shia Muslim leaders have begun talks in the holy city of Najaf with the country's most prominent Shia cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. Shia politicians in Iraq have been discussing the future of the governing alliance in the city of Najaf.
They are expected to seek Mr Sistani's approval for a new governing coalition. They want to persuade radical cleric Moqtada Sadr to rein in his militia and rejoin the political process.
They also say they want to persuade the radical Shia cleric, Moqtada Sadr, to rein in his Mehdi Army militia and rejoin the political process. Officials close to the cleric say they expect his supporters to return to the Iraqi government and parliament, but the meetings are continuing.
Meanwhile in Baghdad, new US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has met Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki for talks. The walk-out was in protest at a meeting between Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and US President George W Bush.
Mr Gates, on his first visit to Baghdad, said they had discussed how the US could help improve security in Iraq, but that no numbers had been discussed in terms of a possible increase in troops. Shia leaders met in Najaf as part of consultations with the country's most prominent Shia cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.
Mr Sadr's party left the government in protest at talks between Mr Maliki and US President George W Bush. New coalition
Serious rivalries They want to form a new governing coalition that will bring together the main Shia parties and representatives of Sunni Arab and Kurdish groups.
The Shia leaders want to form a new governing coalition that will bring together the main Shia parties and representatives of Sunni Arab and Kurdish groups. Dr Ali al-Adib, a member of the Shia Dawa party, said on Thursday that the Shia bloc planned to tell Ayatollah Sistani about the political process, a cabinet reshuffle and the security situation.
Dr Ali al-Adib, a member of the Shia Dawa party, said the Shia bloc planned to tell Ayatollah Sistani about the political process, a cabinet reshuffle and the security situation.
He told the Associated Press news agency the leaders would also ask Mr Sadr "to end the boycott and return to the political process".He told the Associated Press news agency the leaders would also ask Mr Sadr "to end the boycott and return to the political process".
Another member of the Dawa party and an adviser to PM Maliki told the AP news agency they wished to assure Mr Sadr "that he will not be sidelined from the political process".
The elderly Ayatollah Sistani is revered by most of Iraq's Shias. He has considerable influence among the Shia parties but has eschewed any personal political role.The elderly Ayatollah Sistani is revered by most of Iraq's Shias. He has considerable influence among the Shia parties but has eschewed any personal political role.
The Shia leaders visiting Ayatollah Sistani want to show him the new governing coalition will not break the Shia bloc apart. Huge influence
But according to the BBC's Middle East analyst, Roger Hardy, the talk of unity masks serious rivalries. Iraq's Shia-dominated government seems very keen to see Moqtada Sadr return to the political fold.
The Shia are uneasily aware that the fate of Iraq - and of their community's place in Iraq - now hangs in the balance, he says. About 30 of his loyalists walked out of the Iraqi parliament when Mr Maliki met Mr Bush in Jordan three weeks ago.
The move was a blow for the government and illustrated the huge influence the young cleric wields in the country.
The delegation of politicians which visited Najaf on Thursday came from the seven factions of the Shia alliance which make up the largest government bloc.
They are also calling on Moqtada Sadr to rein in his militia, the Mehdi Army, which is accused of taking part in sectarian attacks in Iraq. But there is no news of progress on that issue.