KUFA, Feb 4: Radical Shia leader Moqtada Sadr and Sunni religious figures in Baghdad called on Friday on all political forces that took part in the Jan 30 election to push now for an end to the US troop presence in Iraq.

At the grand mosque in Kufa, south of Baghdad, the firebrand Sadr sent an emissary to read a message on his behalf to the thousands of worshippers gathered for Friday prayers.

"I call on all religious and political powers that pushed towards the elections and took part in them to issue an official statement calling for a timetable for the withdrawal of the occupation forces from Iraq," Sayed Hashim Abu Ragheef told the faithful.

Moqtada Sadr gave notice that he would no longer hold his tongue about political developments in Iraq after keeping quiet for months, according to the message read by Abu Ragheef.

"I stood aside for the elections and did not stand against them as I did not want to show disobedience toward the Marjaiyah (senior religious leaders). I did not join these elections so that I wouldn't be one of the West's pawns. "The West is so proud that they have held the elections but I would ask: who is responsible for the blood that day?" he asked.

SISTANI HAPPY: In Karbala, a representative of Ayatollah Sistani said the 70-year-old leader was satisfied with the way the vote was carried out and sees it as a "path to the next phase". "We believe that the road ahead looks promising given the millions that came out on election day," said Sayed Ahmed.

SUNNI BODY: At the Umm al Qura mosque in Baghdad, headquarters of the Sunni Committee of Muslim Scholars, said that the new government that emerges from the elections must help "draft a constitution according to Islamic laws". -AFP