Sahalani introduced al-Maliki by asking everyone to say a prayer for all Iraqis and others who sacrificed themselves in fighting for the country.
"We are still waiting for a change for the better," he said.
When it came to the question and answer period, some of the faithful asked when Iraq would be peaceful enough for them to visit, including making the pilgrimage to the holy city of Najaf. Shiite Islam broke away from the main Sunni branch in the fights over succession in the years after the Prophet Mohammed died in 680, with the Shiites backing Ali, the prophet's son-in-law and cousin. A huge mosque has been built around the shrine in Najaf, where tradition holds that he was buried.
"When will Najaf be safe enough to make the pilgrimage?" yelled out Azzam Mirza, a 60-year-old Indian-American.
"You can come with us now!" responded the prime minister.
"He said he wanted to visit, not to die there," quipped Sheik Husham al-Husainy, a visiting cleric from Dearborn.
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