Iraqi cleric seeks to curb power of militias
BAGHDAD — Iraq’s top Shiite cleric on Friday called on the powerful Shiite militias that helped conquer the Islamic State’s territory to choose between politics and arms, backing a key demand of the prime minister.
Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani stopped short, however, of rescinding a religious edict he made in June 2014 urging Iraqi citizens to join security forces at a time when the Islamic State was sweeping through the country, eventually taking over about one-third of Iraq’s territory.