By Ali Jawad 

BAGHDAD

Prominent Shia cleric Ali al-Sistani on Friday voiced his unwillingness to throw his support behind any Iraqi political party in parliamentary polls slated for next week.  

He made the assertion in a Friday sermon delivered on his behalf by his deputy, Ahmad al-Safi, in the city of Karbala.  
Speaking for al-Sistani, al-Safi asserted: “The religious authority [i.e., al-Sistani] is maintaining a distance from all [parliamentary] candidates and electoral lists, meaning he does not support any particular person or group.”  

Al-Safi went on to urge Iraqi voters to “avoid falling into the trap of those who have previously erred”.

On May 12, more than 7,000 candidates -- representing 320 parties, coalitions and lists -- will compete for membership in Iraq’s 328-seat parliament. 

According to Iraq’s constitution, the assembly will then be responsible for electing the country's next president and prime minister.  

Twenty-four million people -- out of Iraq’s total population of 37 million -- will be eligible to cast ballots.