MESOP : Iraqi PM Maliki assigned Shahristani, tasks of Foreign Minister instead of Hoshyar Zebari
REUTERS – 11-7-2014 – BAGHDAD,— Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, assigned his deputy for Energy Affairs Hussain al-Shahristani, the functions and tasks of Foreign Minister instead of Hoshyar Zebari.
The Web site of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) said “Maliki’s assignment of Shahristani instead of Zebari came after the Kurdish ministers decision not to participate in the meetings of cabinet in Baghdad.The foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari said on Friday that the Kurdish political bloc will no longer take part in Iraq’s national government in protest against Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s accusation that Kurds were harboring Islamist insurgents in their capital