Jawad al-Maliki, Iraq's prime minister-designate, has discussed banning militias with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, one of Iraq's most influential men.
Iraq's most influential Shia figure, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, has told followers to vote in elections on 15 December, urging them to support religious candidates.
Iraq's interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has said Shia Muslim religious leaders should stay out of politics, an usual public criticism of the powerful clergy.