Sunni, Shi'ite clerics call for calm during Ramadan as 2-day toll reaches 170

In 2003, the Red Cross Headquarters in Baghdad was bombed at the start of Ramadan.

BAGHDAD, Iraq Prominent Sunni Arab and Shiite clerics on Thursday called on Iraqis to put aside their sectarian differences and stop fighting ahead of the Islamic Holy month of Ramadan

Sheik Ahmed Abdul Ghafour al-Samarie, who heads the government agency that cares for Sunni mosques and shrines across the country, said it was a sin for Muslims to kill each other. Ramadan starts around Sept. 24.

"People of Iraq, Ramadan is approaching. Sunnis and Shiites are brothers, so avoid fighting and hatred," said al-Samarie, who heads the Sunni Endowment.

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