NINEWA/ Aswat al-Iraq: Ninewa Ulama announced today that the Iraqi army and police prevented holding Friday's unified Sunni-Shiite prayers in the city.

Ulama spokesman Abdulla al-Faris told Aswat al-Iraq that the forces informed that "no approval was given for today's unified prayers in that mosque".

The forces told them that the only place for the unified prayers is the sit-in square, the spokesman added.

Faris told Aswat al-Iraq that Sheikh Jameel Ibrahim Mandil was arrested while heading to the mosque to deliver his Friday speech.

The detention did not last long, for he was released after a short time, according to the spokesman.

Mosul Ulama sources said here today that the security forces made restraints in the areas that will witness unified Sunni-Shiite Friday prayers, except for the sit-in square.

The source told Aswat al-Iraq that the army put strict restraints in the areas proclaimed to be sites of mosques that will accommodate the unified prayers.

Today's prayers are made under the slogan of "Baghdad… Be Patient".

Security sources informed the mosques that "they did not receive any orders for the unified prayers".

Thousands poured into Ahrar square in mid of Mosul for Friday's prayers which will be followed by a demonstration.

The term "Ninewa Ulama" is used for the Sunni clergymen who organized the demonstrations here on 27 December, 2012, which lasted, till now, for its sixth week.