Shi’ite leader bids to defuse tension

IRAQ’S most influential Shi’ite political leader called yesterday for Sunni-Shi’ite unity as religious figures sought to calm passions and pull the nation from the brink of civil war.

This follows the bombing of a Shi’ite shrine two days’ ago and a wave of deadly reprisal attacks.

The government stepped-up security measures, including a ban on entering or leaving Baghdad and deployment of armed forces in tense areas.