This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/26/world/middleeast/iraq-kurds-independence.html

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Iraq Orders Kurdistan to Surrender Its Airports Iraq Orders Kurdistan to Surrender Its Airports
(about 1 hour later)
ERBIL, Iraq — Angered by a vote on independence by Iraqi Kurdistan, Iraq’s prime minister on Tuesday gave the autonomous region until Friday to surrender control of its two international airports or face a flight shutdown. ERBIL, Iraq — Angered by a Kurdish vote on independence from Iraq, Iraq’s prime minister on Tuesday gave the Kurdish region until Friday to surrender control of its two international airports or face a flight shutdown.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, speaking one day after a controversial Kurdish referendum on independence from Iraq, said humanitarian and other “urgent” flights would be exempted from the ban. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, speaking one day after a controversial vote in Iraqi Kurdistan, said humanitarian and other “urgent” flights would be exempt from the ban.
The Kurdistan Regional Government antagonized Iraq, Turkey and Iran by holding the referendum on Monday. The vote was nonbinding but was expected to produce an overwhelming “yes” vote to seek independence from Iraq. The Kurdistan Regional Government antagonized Iraq, Turkey and Iran by holding the referendum on Monday. The results of the vote have not yet been announced but it was expected go overwhelmingly in favor of seeking independence from Iraq.
The regional government, which has its own parliament and military force, operates international airports in its capital, Erbil, and in the northern city of Sulaymaniyah. A “yes” vote would not lead to immediate independence for the semiautonomous region, but it would direct the regional government to begin the process of creating an independent state, including negotiating a separation with Baghdad.
Iraqi officials, however, have called the referendum unconstitutional and has refused to negotiate with the Kurdish leadership. The Iraqis fear losing a third of the country — and a major source of oil — should Kurdistan break away.
Turkey and Iran feared that a move toward independence by the Iraqi Kurds would inflame separatist fervor among their Kurdish minorities. The United States also opposed the vote, worried that it could set off ethnic conflict, break up Iraq and undermine the American-led coalition against the Islamic State.
Both Turkey and Iran have threatened sanctions against the Kurdish region, including possible flight bans and the closing of border crossings. Turkish and Iraqi troops are conducting military exercises on Iraq’s northern border near Kurdistan, and Iranian forces are carrying out similar maneuvers on its border with Iraq.Both Turkey and Iran have threatened sanctions against the Kurdish region, including possible flight bans and the closing of border crossings. Turkish and Iraqi troops are conducting military exercises on Iraq’s northern border near Kurdistan, and Iranian forces are carrying out similar maneuvers on its border with Iraq.
The move by Mr. Abadi was viewed in Kurdistan as the beginning of a campaign to pressure the region to back away from independence. Baghdad has rejected the referendum, calling it unconstitutional, and has refused to negotiate with the Kurdish leadership. The Kurdish regional government, which has its own parliament and military force, operates international airports in its capital, Erbil, and in the northern city of Sulaymaniyah.
The referendum was opposed by virtually the entire international community, including the United States, which feared that it would destabilize Iraq and undermine the American-led coalition against Islamic State militants. The move by Mr. Abadi was viewed in Kurdistan as the beginning of a campaign to pressure the region to back away from independence.