Iraq's leaders should focus on defeating Islamic State and not the results of a May parliamentary election, top Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani said in a Friday prayers sermon delivered by a representative.

"It is not correct to get distracted with election results and forming alliances or fighting over positions from doing what is necessary to destroy the terrorists and provide protection for citizens in all areas and provinces," Sistani's representative said in the Shi'ite holy city of Kerbala.