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Iraqi Kurds

To develop oil fields retaken from Kurds

Kirkuk - Arab Today

Iraq signed a contract Thursday with British energy giant BP aimed at more than doubling production from oil fields in the northern province of Kirkuk that were retaken from the Kurds last year. The agreement was signed by Iraqi Oil Minister Jabbar al-Luaybi in Kirkuk, north of Baghdad, where the North Oil Company has its headquarters, AFP reporters said. IraqiRead more

Iraqi Kurds take to the streets for lack of funds

Baghdad - Arab Today

Thousands of Iraqi Kurds took to the streets in the Kurdish region on Monday to protest the lack of funds and basic services. The demonstrators also demanded the resignation of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), eye witnesses and officials told Arab News. Riots broke out when protesters set fire to a number of government buildings and party headquarters in Sulaimaniyah,Read more

Iraqi Kurds postpone polls in face of crisis

Erbil - Arab Today

Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region on Wednesday postponed presidential and legislative elections because of the current crisis with Baghdad, its electoral commission said. The region’s Independent High Electoral Commission said it had “decided to suspend temporarily preparations for the elections set for November 1 because of the current situation”. Iraqi government forces said Wednesday they had retaken from Kurdish fighters almostRead more

US does not recognize Kurdistan independence referendum

Washington - Arab Today

The United States "does not recognize" Iraqi Kurds' "unilateral" referendum on independence and calls on all parties to reject the use of force and engage in dialogue, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Friday. "The United States does not recognize the Kurdistan Regional Government's unilateral referendum held on Monday," he said in a statement. "The vote and the results lackRead more

Iraq cuts Kurdistan air links with outside world

Arbil - AFP

The Iraqi government cut autonomous Kurdistan's direct air links with the outside world indefinitely on Friday, partially isolating the northern region after it voted a massive "yes" in an independence referendum. The move increases the pressure on the Iraqi Kurds amid soaring regional tensions following Monday's non-binding but deeply contentious vote. Washington said it did not recognise the "unilateral" referendumRead more

92% voted for independence in Iraqi Kurd referendum

Arbil (Iraq) - AFP

More than 92 percent of Iraqi Kurds voted for independence in a referendum, according to the first official results announced on Wednesday, two days after the disputed plebiscite. Electoral commission officials told a news conference in the regional capital Arbil that 92.73 percent of the 3,305,925 people who cast ballots voted "yes" in Monday's referendum, which had a turnout ofRead more

Iraq Kurds in historic independence vote

Arbil (Iraq) - AFP

Iraqi Kurds are to vote in an independence referendum Monday in defiance of Baghdad which has warned of "measures" to defend Iraq's unity and threatened to deprive their region of lifeline oil revenues. The non-binding vote on the Kurds' long-cherished dream of independence, initiated by veteran leader Massud Barzani, has angered not only the federal government but also neighbouring TurkeyRead more

Iraq's Kurds set for contentious independence vote

Arbil (Iraq) - AFP

Iraqi Kurds were preparing to vote in a referendum set for Monday on independence for their autonomous northern region, despite warnings within the country and from its neighbours Iran and Turkey. The federal government in Baghdad has called the referendum unconstitutional. There are concerns the vote could lead to unrest, and Washington and many Western countries have called for itsRead more