BAGHDAD: An official with Iraq's Sunni-backed political alliance says its leaders have decided to end a parliament boycott, but the bloc's ministers will stay away from Cabinet meetings to protest arrests and prosecution of Sunni officials.

Maysoun al-Damlouji, a spokeswoman for Iraqiya bloc, says its lawmakers will return to the parliament when it reconvenes Tuesday.

She said Iraqiya's leaders decided that the bloc's ministers will not attend the weekly meeting of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Cabinet the same day.

The decision Sunday could escalate sectarian tensions in the Shiite-dominated government. It erupted last month after authorities issued an arrest warrant against the Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi on terrorism charges.

A surge in sectarian violence has accompanied the political crisis.