Tag Archives | referendum

Voting Starts in Kurdish Independence Referendum

Voters in Iraqi Kurdistan and the disputed areas under Kurdish control have started to cast their ballots on whether to split from the rest of Iraq and become an independent state, according to Kurdish media reports early on September 25. Reports claimed that voters had been queuing for hours before polling stations opened at 0800 […]

Kirkuk "teetering on the Brink of War"

By Fazel Hawramy for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. A few days ahead of the Kurdistan referendum on independence, an ethnic clash took place between a group of Kurds and Turkmens in Kirkuk on Sept. 19. Local police deployed in different parts […]

Video: Iraqi Kurdistan pushes ahead with Referendum

From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq's Kurdistan region is pushing ahead with an independence referendum next Monday despite pressure to call it off. President Masoud Barzani remains defiant, but many Kurds are worried about the consequences of the […]

UN Security Council Concerned over Kurdish Referendum

The United Nations Security Council today expressed concern over the “potentially destabilizing impact” of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s plans to unilaterally hold a referendum next week. In a statement issued to the press, members of the Council noted that the planned referendum is scheduled to be held while operations to counter Islamic State of Iraq […]

What Int'l Media are Saying about Kurdish Independence

This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraqi Kurdistan is in the spotlight and the international media are reporting on the upcoming independence referendum, far and wide. But a focus on international opposition, means that important context […]

Iran, US align against Iraqi Kurdistan Referendum

By Fazel Hawramy for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Mlitary commanders and diplomats from both Iran and the United States are swarming Iraqi Kurdistan in a last-ditch attempt to convince the Kurds, an important ally in the war against the Islamic State […]

Video: Abadi warns of Military Force if Kurdish Vote turns Violent

From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq's Prime Minister says he is prepared to use military force if a planned referendum on Kurdish independence turns violent. The Kurds in Iraq have come under increasing pressure from regional powers and […]

Video: Kurdish Referendum causes Concern in Iraq

From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. With the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group defeated by government forces in northern Iraq, the question of Kurdish independence could pose a new problem in the country. Tensions have […]

Many Obstacles to Kurdistan Independence Referendum

By Omar Sattar for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraqi Kurdistan faces many Obstacles to Independence Referendum Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) announced May 24 that it had formally informed the United Nations Security Council of its intention […]

Kurds to hold Independence Referendum in Sept

By John Lee. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq is to hold a referendum on independence on 25th September. According to BBC News, there was no immediate comment from Iraq's central government, but it has urged Kurds not to hold a referendum. Moves towards outright independence have historically been opposed by the governments of neighbouring Iran, […]

Baghdad wants to take back Kirkuk Oil Fields

By John Lee. Iraq’s Ministry of Oil has said it will try to retake full control of all Kirkuk oilfields that were administered by the North Oil Company (NOC) before the Islamic State group (IS, ISIS, ISIL, Daesh) entered Iraqi territories, and "before the Peshmerga forces seized some oil wells during the previous government.” It […]