Moqtada Sadr, whose militiamen were blamed for sectarian killings during the worst years of Iraq's violence, is seeking to assert his political weight in post-US troops Iraq.

The initiative comes as a government crisis has strained ties between Sunnis and Shiites to the breaking point.

Shiite Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki is engaged in a showdown with the top Sunni political leader in the country. His government has issued an arrest warrant for Vice President Tariq Al-Hashemi for what Hashemi says are trumped-up charges that he ran hit squads against government officials.

Sadr's proposal comes just two days after a terrifying wave of Baghdad bombings killed 69 people and wounded nearly 200. The bombs tore through mostly Shiite neighborhoods of the Iraqi capital, evoking fears the country could dissolve into a new round of sectarian violence.

Sadr's associates handed out to the media a 14-point "peace code" proposal written by the preacher. It warns against spilling Iraqi blood and urges respect for all religions, sects and ethnic groups.

Sadr's aide Salah Al-Obeidi described the code as an attempt "to preserve the unity of the country and save it from fighting."

According to Dhia Al-Assadi, another prominent Sadrist politician, 500 people, including politicians, lawmakers, academics, scholars and tribal sheikhs have signed on to this code.

Former Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari, who also attended the Sadrist conference in Baghdad on Saturday, hailed the initiative, saying it "came at the right time" for Iraq.

President Jalal Talabani meanwhile said that Hashemi would stand trial only if the government could assure the country of its fairness. "Mr. Tariq Al-Hashemi is in the hospitality of the president of the republic," a statement from Talabani's office said. "Hashemi will appear in front of justice at any time and anywhere in the country where there will be reassurances regarding the processes of justice, investigation and trial."

Turkey's foreign minister urged Hashemi to remain in Iraq but said Turkey would not turn him away if he requested asylum.

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Turkey's doors were open to him but that he would prefer him to stay in Iraq and contribute to a solution to the political problems facing his country. He said the allegation Hashemi faced was grave and he should clarify his position as early as possible.