Al Jazeera TV reported Maliki has appointed Hossein Shahrestani to carry out the duties of Hoshiyar Zebari as Iraq’s foreign minister. This decision, following Kurdish ministers departing the government based on a call made by Kurdistan Regional Government President Massud Barzani. Zebari has said the decision by the Kurds to depart from the government is in protest to remarks made by Maliki against the Kurds.