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Iraq Kurdistan independence referendum planned Iraq Kurdistan independence referendum planned
(about 1 hour later)
The president of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan Region has told the BBC he intends to hold a referendum on independence within months.The president of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan Region has told the BBC he intends to hold a referendum on independence within months.
Massoud Barzani said that Iraq was in effect already partitioned. Massoud Barzani said that Iraq was already "effectively partitioned".
He said that while the Kurds would play a part in a political solution to the country's crisis, independence was what he described as their natural right. While the Kurds would play a part in a political solution to the crisis caused by jihadist-led Sunni Arab rebellion, independence was their right, he added.
Iraq's parliament meanwhile meets for the first time since April's elections and in the midst of a major insurgency. Meanwhile, Iraq's new parliament is meeting for the first time, with the aim of forming a unity government.
It faces the task of creating a unified government to deal with the escalating political crisis. The current Prime Minister, Nouri Maliki, is facing calls from his Sunni, Kurdish and Shia rivals to step down because of his handling of the crisis.
Huge swathes of northern Iraq are now in the hands of Sunni insurgents, including Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isis) militants, who have declared an Islamic caliphate in their newly conquered territories. However, as the leader of the bloc that won the most votes in April's elections, he has demanded the right to try to form a governing coalition.
Huge swathes of northern and western Iraq are now in the hands of Sunni rebels led by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isis). On Sunday, the al-Qaeda breakaway declared a caliphate in the territories under its control in Iraq and neighbouring Syria.
The United Nations has said that at least 2,417 Iraqis, including 1,531 civilians, were killed in "acts of violence and terrorism" in Iraq last month, when Isis launched its offensive.
The death toll does not include fatalities in the western province of Anbar, where the Iraqi authorities say 244 civilians were killed in June.
"The staggering number of civilian casualties in one month points to the urgent need for all to ensure that civilians are protected," said the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Iraq, Nickolay Mladenov.
"As large parts of the country remain under the control of Isis and armed groups, it is imperative that national leaders work together to foil attempts to destroy the social fabric of Iraqi society."
'Tragic situation''Tragic situation'
In the past month many Iraqi troops have fled northern cities in the face of sweeping advances by Isis rebels, allowing the Kurds to move into previously disputed areas, such as the oil-rich region of Kirkuk. In the past month, Kurdish Peshmerga fighters have moved into previously disputed areas that have been abandoned by Iraqi security forces in the face of Isis's advance, such as the oil-rich region of Kirkuk.
"Everything that's happened recently shows that it's the right of Kurdistan to achieve independence," Mr Barzani said. "Everything that's happened recently shows that it's the right of Kurdistan to achieve independence," Mr Barzani told the BBC.
"From now on, we won't hide that that's our goal. Iraq is effectively partitioned now. Are we supposed to stay in this tragic situation the country's living? It's not me who will decide on independence. It's the people. We'll hold a referendum and it's a matter of months.""From now on, we won't hide that that's our goal. Iraq is effectively partitioned now. Are we supposed to stay in this tragic situation the country's living? It's not me who will decide on independence. It's the people. We'll hold a referendum and it's a matter of months."
The cause of Kurdish independence was supported by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the weekend who said that it was a necessary response to gains made by Isis. Analysis: Jim Muir, BBC News, Irbil
Like many Kurds from all walks of life, Massoud Barzani has always harboured the dream of independence for Kurdistan.
Now he clearly believes it is closer than ever. He and other Kurdish leaders say that for 10 years after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, they did their best to help build a stable, federal Iraq by participating fully in the Baghdad central government.
Now, as the rest of the Iraq is being torn to pieces, they feel justified in giving up and going their own way.
They have not only fresh motivation, but greater means. The oil of Kirkuk, which they seized as army troops fled, may boost their exports to 1 million barrels a day.
But it is not an easy path. The Kurdistan Regional Government is strapped for cash, and lacks the infrastructure to increase exports substantially.
And the basics that have always argued against independence are still there. The Kurds of Iraq are landlocked. Neighbours Iran, Turkey, Syria, and Iraq itself have always frowned on the notion. They may be busy with problems now, but not forever.
The cause of Kurdish independence received support over the weekend from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said that it was a necessary response to gains made by Isis.
The Kurds have long striven for an independent state but they remain divided between Syria and Turkey, Iran and Iraq.The Kurds have long striven for an independent state but they remain divided between Syria and Turkey, Iran and Iraq.
The international community, including neighbouring Turkey and the US, remains opposed to the break-up of Iraq.The international community, including neighbouring Turkey and the US, remains opposed to the break-up of Iraq.
The BBC's Andrew Hosken in Baghdad says the first decision facing the majority Shia government when parliament reconvenes on Tuesday will be whether to replace Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, whom critics blame for stoking sectarian tensions during his eight years in power. Fresh clashes have meanwhile been reported between Sunni rebels and government forces around the Iraqi city of Tikrit.
Fresh clashes have meanwhile been reported between jihadist-led Sunni rebels and government forces around the Iraqi city of Tikrit.
Witnesses said there had been a wave of air strikes and that former President Saddam Hussein's palace had been hit.Witnesses said there had been a wave of air strikes and that former President Saddam Hussein's palace had been hit.
A local source told the BBC the rebels had meanwhile seized parts of a nearby military base in a counter-attack.A local source told the BBC the rebels had meanwhile seized parts of a nearby military base in a counter-attack.
US President Barack Obama has announced he is sending about another 200 troops to protect the US embassy in Baghdad. US President Barack Obama announced he was sending about another 200 troops to protect the US embassy in Baghdad.
This means about 750 US troops are in and around Iraq, but President Obama has ruled out sending combat troops to fight alongside the Iraqi army. That means some 750 US soldiers will soon be deployed in Iraq, but Mr Obama has ruled out sending troops to fight alongside Iraq's army.
Are you in Iraqi Kurdistan? What do you think about Kurdish independence? Send us your comments. You can email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Kurdish independence'.Are you in Iraqi Kurdistan? What do you think about Kurdish independence? Send us your comments. You can email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Kurdish independence'.