Abadi Says Committed to Religious Authority Guidance, Vows to Fight Corruption

As he stressed that he is fully committed to the guidance of the religious authority in Iraq, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi pledged to fight corruption.

The premier “pledges to announce a comprehensive plan of reform and work on the implementation” of it, his office said in a statement following a call by the country’s most senior Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.

Abadi is “fully committed to the valued guidance of the supreme religious authority,” the statement added.

It also said Abadi would draft a plan to fight graft, calling on political parties to contribute to the measure.

Earlier in the day, Sayyed Sistani had addressed the prime minister, urging him to resolve internal issues in the government.

The premier must be more “daring and courageous” in his efforts to reform the government, Sistani had said during a Friday prayers sermon delivered by his representative Ahmed al-Safi in the holy city of Karbala.

His eminence called on Abadi to strike “with an iron fist anyone who is tampering with the people’s money.”

Abadi assumed power almost a year ago vowing tough action against corruption.

Iraqi people have recently staged protest rallies in a number of cities against alleged graft among government officials and the shortage of electricity and water.