BAGHDAD, Feb 11 (AFP) - Iraq's leading religious Sunni authority called Friday for the creation of an umbrella organisation of all Sunni groups and parties in a bid to unify the disempowered community's political position.
"We want to set up a general Sunni conference" comprised of representatives from parties, tribes, unions, associations and provincial officials, said Sheikh Ahmed Abdul Ghafur al-Samarrai during his sermon at Baghdad's Umm al-Qura mosque.
"This conference will not replace the various parties and associations but will be the link among all Sunnis," explained Sheikh Ahmed, a senior member of the Committee of Muslim Scholars.
The clerical organisation represents some 3,000 mosques across the country and has taken the lead in the search for a common Sunni stance after elections, widely boycotted by Sunnis, which are expected to see the majority Shiites and the Kurds come to power.
"We want to close ranks and extend a brotherly hand to all Iraqis," he said, adding that the main goal of the proposed organisation would be to "work towards freeing Iraq of foreign occupation through political channels".
Sunni participation in the landmark January 30 vote was low, due to boycott calls, insurgent threats or disaffection with the political process among a community struggling to come to terms with the loss of its decades-old grip on power.
Although the Sunni community -- around 20 percent of the population -- will be poorly represented in the National Assembly that is to draft the country's permanent constitution, all agree that its participation in the next political phase is crucial.
Government and UN officials have been meeting with various key Sunni figures in recent days in the hope of getting them involved in the political process.
02/11/2005 15:58 GMT - AFP