Hanging the flag of northern Iraq's Kurdish region outside public buildings in Kirkuk could lead to friction between city residents, Vice President Osama al-Nujeifi said Tuesday.

"Such an act is incongruous with national unity in Kirkuk and contradicts the spirit of understanding and solidarity among city residents," he said in a statement.

"It is unacceptable to impose the will of a single group or party on residents."

Al-Nujeifi spoke out after 26 Kurdish members of Kirkuk's provincial assembly on Tuesday decided to hang the Kurdish regional flag alongside Iraq's national flag outside the city's public buildings.

Arab and Turkmen members of the provincial assembly were absent from Tuesday's meeting.

"As the representatives of Arabs, we do not approve any decision from the assembly without considering us," Arab assembly member Burhan Mzhir al-Asi said.

Fellow Arab member Maan al-Hamdani added: "One-sided resolutions cannot be acceptable as Kirkuk is a district under Baghdad's administration."