Despite objections Iraq's Kurds plan to hold independence referendum
Turkey, Iran and Syria, which together with Iraq have sizeable Kurdish populations, all oppose the referendum and are worried that the vote could ignite further conflict in the region.
Kurdish people gather in support of a referendum on the secession of northern Iraqs Kurdish region to be held on September 25, in Kirkuk, Iraq, August 16, 2017. / Reuters
People in northern Iraq's Kurdish-majority region plan to hold a referendum next month that will decide whether to break away from Baghdad or not.
Referendum campaigners say it's time for the territory to seek full independence.
But as TRT World'sAndrew Hopkins reports, some key players in the region are pushing for the vote to be delayed.