Iraq 🇮🇶 parliament repeals Kurdish independence referendum

Iraq's parliament rejected Kurdish plans to hold an independence referendum aimed at creating a Kurdish state in Iraq's nothern territory, a lawmaker announced on Tuesday.

The resolution, which labelled the ballot due to take place on September 25 a "threat to ... the civil peace and regional security", authorises Haider al-Abadi, Iraq's prime minister, to take any measures necessary to preserve Iraq's existing borders.

The referendum on whether to secede from Iraq was due to be held in the three governorates - Erbil, Dohuk and Sulaymaniyah - that constitute the nation's Kurdish region, and in areas of disputed territory currently under Kurdish military control, including the oil-rich province of Kirkuk.

Kurds have pushed for their own state since the conclusion of WWI, when Kurdish-populated areas were split between modern-day Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria as boundaries across the Middle East were redrawn.

UCJ, UNILORIN.