While he made the plea, more people were killed across the country.
Al-Maliki told a televised news conference that only politicians can stop a further deterioration and the bloodshed in the country.
"As we always say, the crisis is political and the ones who can stop a further deterioration [of the situation] and the bloodshed are the politicians," al-Maliki said.
The country's vice president and top Sunni leader Tareq al-Hashini today vowed to support al-Maiki in his efforts to end the violence.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi government is working out new security measures as it prepares to lift a curfew imposed after car bombs killed more that 200 people in Baghdad on November 23.
In another move, Egypt announced today that foreign ministers of countries neighboring Iraq will meet in Cairo next month about ways to stop the violence in Iraq.
Reports say at least 16 people were killed across the country today.
(compiled from agency reports)
