Days Before Iraqi Kurds Are To Hold Their Referendum For Independence, The Iraq Parliament Has Removed The Kurdish Governor Of Kirkuk

Reuters: Iraq MPs votes to oust Kirkuk governor days before referendum

BAGHDAD/KIRKUK (Reuters) - Iraq’s parliament on Thursday voted to remove the governor of Kirkuk, a staunch supporter of Kurdish independence, just days before a referendum on whether to split from Baghdad.

The Kurdish presidency said leaders would study a western plan to delay the referendum and ease tensions. But hours later, President Massoud Barzani himself was quoted by local media as telling a rally the vote would go ahead on Sept. 25 as planned.

Kirkuk Governor Najmaddin Kareem said he had no intention of following Baghdad’s order, issued at the behest of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, and stepping down.

“I will stay in office,” he told Reuters. “The referendum will go on as planned...The prime minister does not have the power to ask parliament to remove me.”

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The Iraqi parliament is also trying to purge the Iraqi President from his position .... Baghdad’s Shiites in bid to oust Kurdish president of Iraq (RUDAW). In the meantime, the UN, U.S., and the U.K. are trying to defuse the situation .... UN, US, UK present alternative to referendum, Kurdish leadership to study it (Rudaw).

Update #1: Iraqi Kurd president says ties with Baghdad are cut over sacking of Kirkuk governor (The National).

Update #2: A hard-core Shiite militia leader warns of civil war .... Shiite leader warns of civil war if referendum proceeds (Rudaw). More here .... Paramilitary leader warns of “inevitable” civil war after referendum (Iraqi News).

More News On Growing Tensions In Iraq Over The Upcoming Kurdish Referendum For Independence

Iraq MPs vote to sack Kirkuk governor over Kurdish referendum -- BBC
Iraq parliament dismisses Kirkuk governor -- The National
Iraqi MPs vote to sack Kirkuk governor as Kurdish referendum nears -- Middle East Eye
Iraqi Parl't Dismisses Kirkuk Governor as Kurdistan Independence Vote Approaches -- Sputnik
Ankara backs Iraqi parliament's rejection of Kurdish referendum -- The Jerusalem Post
Almost everybody is against a Kurdish referendum -- The Economist