Iraq's Kurdish parliament backs Sept 25 independence referendum
Source: Reuters
#WORLD NEWS SEPTEMBER 15, 2017 / 12:29 PM / UPDATED 11 MINUTES AGO
ERBIL, Iraq (Reuters) - The parliament of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region approved a plan to hold a referendum on independence on Sept. 25, ignoring Iraqi, Iranian and Turkish opposition as well as U.S and Western concern that the vote could cause new conflicts in the region.
An overwhelming majority of Kurdish MPs raised their hands to approve the plan, during the first session held by the parliament since it was suspended two years ago.
The parliament reconvened on Friday in Erbil, the seat of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq.
The central government in Baghdad opposes the plan, as do Iraq’s neighbors Iran and Turkey, which fear that an independent Kurdish state could fuel separatism among their own Kurdish populations.
Reporting by Raya Jalabi; Editing by Kevin Liffey
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-kurds/iraqs-kurdish-parliament-backs-sept-25-independence-referendum-idUSKCN1BQ2AV
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