Is Barzani 'playing with fire' by going ahead with the referendum?

The referendum is risky, especially in Kirkuk, an oil-rich multi-ethnic city also claimed by Turkmen and Arabs.

Masoud Barzani attends a rally to show support for the upcoming September 25th independence referendum in Duhuk, Iraq September 16, 2017. Reuters
Reuters

Masoud Barzani attends a rally to show support for the upcoming September 25th independence referendum in Duhuk, Iraq September 16, 2017. Reuters

The Kurdish Regional Government's president Massoud Barzani appears determined to press on with an independence referendum in northern Iraq.

But this decision has been met with opposition both within the country and internationally. Turkey, Iran, the United States and Iraq's central government have all called for the vote to be stopped fearing it could divide the country and spark a wider regional conflict.

TRT World's Abubakr al Shamahi has more.

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