July 21, 2007 (LPAC)--A representative of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who is the supreme Shi'ite authority in Iraq, issued scathing criticism of the Iraqi government, during prayers in the holy city of Karbala yesterday. Al-Sistani has heretofore generally supported the government. Speaking at the shrine of Imam Hussein, according to Voice of America, Sheikh Ahmed al-Safi stated: "Seven months have elapsed from 2007, yet the citizen finds no improvement in the services rendered to him." He said, "The Iraqi national budget, branded as revolutionary, reached $41 billion this year, but I received reliable information that only 1% of the budget was... spent, as it is only the officials' mode that determines the priority of implementing the suggested projects."

The sheikh also accused the government of developing dictatorial methods. "In Iraq, we have a new syndrome, which has become the prevailing law, that is the official's mode," al-Safi said. "There are new dictatorships in Iraq, similar to those of the past, they want to demolish all highly qualified people. These dictatorships now have established themselves well in the governmental departments where things are adapted to the way liked by the dictator official," he said. He called on political blocs to seek greater unity as most of their platforms "share much in common." Finally, he stressed the need to improve the security situation in Baghdad as a key to solve all problems in other provinces. "Efforts should be made to regain security in Baghdad because it would affect the security situation in Diala, Mosul and elsewhere," he said.