The cabinet swiftly appointed Chief Scientific Advisor to Iraqi Atomic Energy Hussain al-Shahristani as the new foreign minister as well as Iraqi Justice Minister Hassan al-Shammari as new trade minister, Iraqi news sources announced on Friday. Both ministers will keep their previous positions too.

The main reason behind such reshuffle has been declared as the ministers’ absence in cabinet session.

The Kurdistan Alliance in the Iraqi government on Thursday announced that it would not attend the sessions of the cabinet, protesting the "individual behaviors" of al-Maliki.

Deputy Prime Minister Ruz Nuri Shaways said during a joint press conference with several Kurdish ministers that their boycott came in protest against al-Maliki's behaviors and statements against Kurdistan.

Zebari, Hassan and Minster of Health Majeed Hamad Amin were present in the conference.

Shaways noted that Kurdish ministers confirmed that they would contact top Shiite clerics to tell them about that decision.

Concerning the boycott to attend the cabinet, Shaways said "it is an expression of protest against such actions, statements and attitudes".

He noted that commitment to national agreements made by different national forces is the only way to save Iraq.

NJF/NJF