Kurdish members of the Council of Representatives in Baghdad have refused to attend today's session, protesting remarks made by a State of Law Coalition member against Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.
n Tuesday Kurdistan Blocs Coalition members walked out of the Council session and said Hussein al-Assaadi should officially apologize for accusing Talabani, a Kurd, of sheltering a terrorist.

Assadi told some Iraqi journalists on Sunday that article 4 of terrorism law applies to Talabani as the President has given shelter to his Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, who is wanted by court on terrorism charges.

On Dec. 19 after an arrest order was issued for him, the VP traveled to Kurdistan Region and has stayed there since then. He has denied the charges, calling the evidence fabricated. At the same time he has demanded his trail be held in Khanaqin in Diyala Province, a demanded that Baghdad has rejected.

Talabani refused to hand over Hashemi to Baghdad, saying Hashemi is a guest in Kurdistan.

Since Assadi has not apologized to Talabani and is attending the Council sessions, the K.B.C. decided to boycott, Fatih Daraghayi a K.B.C. Representative told AKnews.

The boycott will continue unless Assadi apologizes and if he does not, he should not attend the session, he added.