Kurds Boycott Meetings With Baghdad

Political events in Iraq have continued their downward spiral, as the Kurdish political bloc has stopped its participation in the national government. The move was in response to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki accusing the Kurds of harboring Sunni terrorists. Maliki's declaration, which lacked any evidence, was itself in response to calls from the Kurds that Maliki be removed from office. Maliki's accusation caused Deputy Prime Minister Roz Nouri Shawez, the highest ranking Kurd, to say, "Such statements are meant to hide the big security fiasco by blaming others, and we announce our boycott of Cabinet meetings."