Iraqi PM demands invalidation of Kurdish independence referendum

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has demanded the annulment of this week’s referendum on the independence of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region amid soaring tensions between the central government in Baghdad and local Kurdish authorities.

“The referendum must be annulled and dialogue initiated in the framework of the constitution. We will never hold talks based on the results of the referendum,” Abadi said on Wednesday.

He added, “We will impose Iraqi law in the entire region of Kurdistan under the constitution.”

The remarks came as Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Masoud Barzani has said the vote will not lead to an immediate declaration of independence from the rest of the Iraqi territory, and would rather open a chapter in negotiations with the Baghdad government.

Anbdi has described the vote as illegal and unconstitutional, stressing that its results would not serve as the basis for talks.

Meanwhile, the KRG has rejected Abadi’s ultimatum that the Kurdish region must hand over the control of its international airports by Friday if it seeks to avoid an international air embargo.

Acting KRG Transport and Communications Minister Mawlud Murad Muhyadin told reporters on Wednesday that keeping control of airports and maintaining direct international flights to Erbil, which is the capital city of the Kurdish region and located approximately 350 kilometers (220 miles) north of Baghdad, was necessary for the campaign against the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.

The developments come as low-cost airline FlyDubai says it may suspend service to Erbil from Saturday, after Iraq called on international carriers to halt flights to the Kurdish region following the divisive independence referendum.

The carrier said in a statement to The Associated Press on Wednesday that its Friday flight will operate as scheduled.

“We are aware of the situation and are liaising with our local representative regarding our operations from Saturday,” the statement read.

Earlier, the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority sent a notice to foreign airlines, telling them that international flights to Erbil and Sulaymaniyah would be suspended at 1500 GMT on Friday, and only domestic flights allowed.

Both Lebanon's Middle East Airlines and EgyptAir have announced that they would halt flights to Erbil this week at the request of Baghdad