Ayatollah Sayyed Ali al-Sistani said that Takfiri terrorists who have been waging an insurgency against the Iraqi government must be expelled out of the country before it is too late, as he urged forming new government.

Religious reference Ayatollah Sayyed Ali al-Sistani said that Takfiri terrorists who have been waging an insurgency against the Iraqi government must be expelled out of the country before it is too late, as he urged forming new government.

If terrorists of the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL) are nor "fought and expelled from Iraq, everyone will regret it tomorrow, when regret has no meaning," his spokesman announced on his behalf in the holy city of Karbala.

Abdul Mehdi al-Karbalai said Iraqis of all religions and communities had to band together to fight insurgents, led by ISIL but including other groups, such as loyalists of late dictator Saddam Hussein.

Karbalai said in televised remarks that a previous call by Sistani for Iraqis to join the armed forces "was for all citizens, without specifying a religion," clearly outlining a cross-sectarian push.

"The goal was to get ready to face the Takfiri group called ISIL, which now has the upper hand... in what is happening in many provinces," he added.

His eminence also called for the "formation of an effective government that is acceptable on a ... national level (and) avoids past mistakes," his spokesman said on his behalf.