TEHRAN, Jan 20: Iraq should learn from the experience of Iran's 1979 revolution and not allow religious leaders to take a political role for which they are unqualified, Iran's leading dissident said on Thursday.

Hossein Ali Montazeri, one of the few Shia leaders to attain the rank of Grand Ayatollah, has long criticized Iran's ruling ayatollahs for being too hard on the people and perverting a constitution he helped draft.

"I believe, considering Iran's experience, Iraqi clerics should not interfere in the country's state matters. This is not their field of expertise and should be dealt with by experts," he said in written replies to questions from newsmen.

Iraqis go to the polls on Jan 30 in an election which analysts tip the Shia groups to win. "It is better if clerics just supervise approved bills and make sure they are not contrary to Islam. In case of any contradiction, they should point it out in a very friendly way," he added, writing from his office in the seminary city of Qom.

Ayatollah Montazeri was hailed as "the fruit of my life" by Ayatollah Khomeini, spiritual father of the 1979 revolution, who designated him as his successor. But he fell from grace in 1988 after openly criticizing the revolutionary rulers and condemning the executions of political prisoners. He was released from five years of house imprisonment in 2003 - a punishment handed down for criticizing Ayatollah Khamenei. -Reuters