BAGHDAD, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al- Maliki made an urgent plea on Sunday to the rival sectarian factions in his national unity government to end disputes that he said were behind the bloodshed and crisis of recent days.

Berating all the political leadership -- rather than militant groups as he has in the past -- Maliki told a brief televised news conference: "The ones who can stop a further deterioration and the bloodshed are the politicians."

But he added this could happen "only when they agree and all realise that there are no winners and losers in this battle."

"Let's be totally honest -- the security situation is a reflection of political disagreement," he said.

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