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Influential Shia cleric ÌýhasÌýyet to respond to calls by his rivals toÌýjoin a Ìýaimed at solving Iraq's months-long .

Iraq’s caretaker prime ministerÌý on Wednesday headed a meeting of senior political leaders and party representatives attended by the head of Iraq’s High Judicial CouncilÌýand UN special representative Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert.

However, Sadr's party, the Sadrist Movement,Ìýdid not attend the gathering.

After the meeting, the Iraqi government said in a Ìýthat the participants had agreedÌýon dealing with the political crisis through dialogue andÌýconstitutional means,Ìýand calledÌýon the Sadrist Movement to engage in the process.

Talks are expected to resume by Tuesday, butÌýSadr remains tight-lipped aboutÌýwhether his partyÌýwill take part.

Sadr and his political rivals, most of whom areÌýIran-backed Shia groups, have been at odds since last year's parliamentary elections. Sadr won the largest share of seats in the October vote, but failed to form a majority government.

Sadr insists that Iraq’s Supreme Federal Court dissolve parliament and new elections be held. The Coordination Framework, an alliance of Iran-backed parties, insists thatÌýparliament would have to convene to dissolve itself.

The clericÌýlast Wednesday gave the judiciary a week to Ìýparliament - but the judiciary said it had no authority to do so.

Sadr's supporters are Ìýoutside parliament to protestÌýthe Coordination Framework's nomination of Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani as prime minister.

Last Saturday, SadrÌýcalled on his followers to be ready to hold massive protests all over Iraq but then after Iran-backed groups called for similar rallies the same day, saying he wants to preserve peace.

Salih Mohammed al-Iraqi, a prominent Twitter user who is believed to be a senior Sadr loyalist,ÌýÌýon Thursday that the meeting and its outcomes did not serveÌýthe interests of the people.

He urged loyalistsÌýto continue their sit-in at the parliament, and on Friday ÌýSadrists stillÌýheld the trump card in Iraqi politics.