BAGHDAD – A spokesman for Iraqi Kurdish president Massud Barzani said Thursday national premier Nuri al-Maliki had “become hysterical” and should step down after he accused the autonomous region of harbouring jihadists.

Maliki “has become hysterical and has lost his balance,” the statement, published on the regional presidency website in English, said.

Addressing the premier, it continued: “You must apologise to the Iraqi people and step down.”