Leading Iraqi clerics call for U.S. to leave

A woman walks past the rubble of yesterday's mortar attack in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Leading Sunni and Shiite clerics in Iraq said Saturday the U.S. military presence aggravates the sectarian violence that is tearing at the country.

While urging their followers to stop attacks on other Muslims, the clerics said U.S. and other coalition troops should leave, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"The roots of our problems lie in the mistakes of the Americans committed right from the beginning of their occupation," said Sheikh Ali Mirza Asada, a Shiite and leader of the Dawa Party.

Sheikh Harith Dhari, a Sunni leader declared a fugitive by the Iraqi government -- which charges he abetted terrorism -- sounded a similar note in a news conference in Cairo.

"Since the beginning, the U.S. occupation drove Iraq from bad to worse," he said.

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