Baghdad, Iraq (ANTARA News/AFP) - An Iraqi judicial committee issued an arrest warrant on Monday for Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi based on "anti-terror laws", security and judicial officials said.

"The five-member committee has issued an arrest warrant against Tareq al-Hashemi according to anti-terror laws," a security official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

A judicial official, who also did not want to be named, confirmed the warrant had been issued. The committee earlier barred Hashemi from leaving the country.

News of the warrant came as state broadcaster Al-Iraqiya TV aired footage showing what the interior ministry said was Hashemi`s bodyguards confessing to planning and carrying out terror attacks, and receiving funding and support from the vice president.

At least 13 of Hashemi`s bodyguards have been arrested in recent weeks, though it was unclear how many were still being held.

The president of Iraq`s autonomous Kurdish region Massud Barzani earlier called for urgent talks to prevent the "collapse" of the country`s national unity government, warning that "the situation is headed towards deep crisis."

Hashemi`s office on Monday complained of "intentional harassment" in the form of a security force blockading his home for several weeks, as well as other incidents.

The latest events come after the Iraqiya bloc of Hashemi and Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlak said on Saturday it was boycotting parliament in protest over Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki`s alleged monopolising of power.

On Sunday Maliki called for Mutlak to be ousted, and lawmakers are due to consider his request on January 3, a parliament official said. (*)

Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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