A number of Iraqi MPs gathered signatures to question President Talabani in Parliament on account of his latest statements on Kirkuk, Iraqi media reports said.

Parliament Speaker Ousama Al Nujaifi welcomed the request and political parties called on Iraqi President to either backtrack his statements or apologize.

Kurdistan Alliance affirmed that the mechanism of gathering MPs signatures to question Iraqi President Jalal Talabani is non-constitutional.

President Talabani’s statements coincided with the rising tension in Kirkuk on account of Peshmerga Forces’ presence in the city.