Reuters &agencies - RIYADH, Oct 20 (Reuters & agencies) - Iraqi Shi'ite and Sunni clerics meeting in the Muslim holy city of Mecca called on Friday for an end to sectarian violence that many fear could lead to civil war in Iraq.
Sponsored by the 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the meeting approved a declaration prohibiting the killing of Muslims in Iraq and called for safeguarding the unity of the country.
It also urged the release of Muslim and non-Muslim hostages.
It was not clear what impact the document signed by the dozens of clerics would have on militias that appear to be outside the control of both Shi'ite and Sunni religious authorities, and others that are affiliated to al Qaeda.
While they expressed support for the meeting, some of the most powerful Iraqi clerics, including Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani and radical leader Moqtada al-Sadr, did not send representatives to the event.
The Saudi-based OIC's Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said the document was inspired by historic Islamic texts prohibiting infighting between Muslims and draws its strength from the symbolism of the signing venue.
"This document takes effect from this moment ... We hope (religious) authorities and clerics spread the message of the document in mosques ... and that local media make sure it reaches all Iraqis," he said.
Violence between Sunnis and Shi'ites in Iraq has escalated since a 2003 U.S.-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein. Sunni insurgents are fighting the Shi'ite-dominated government and the U.S.-led forces backing it.
Although Saudi Arabia follows a strict version of Sunni Islam, it is trying to bolster the Iraqi government for fear of the country collapsing.

The declaration includes 10 points which had been agreed on by Shiite and Sunni leading clerics in a meeting held at the headquarters of Islamic Fiqh Complex in Jeddah on 7 and 8 of October 2006. The spokesman for the IOC Attaa al-Mannan has said that in a statement published on the IOC site the question is not related to reconciliation initiative between the Iraqis but aimed at stopping sectarian fighting between the Iraqis.