Kurdish referendum threatens to destabilise region, says Iraqi PM Al-Abadi
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced on Monday that the nation's Supreme Court had ruled to suspend the Kurdish independence referendum originally set for 25 September until it had made a final ruling on the potential "dangerous consequences" arising from the result.
Al-Abadi said he had formally demanded Kurdistan's succession vote be suspended due to concerns from Western powers and its regional neighbours, such as Turkey and Iran, that the referendum could undermine ongoing campaigns against IS militants.
The Kurdish leadership in northern Iraq showed no intention of calling off the vote, despite warnings of unspecified consequences from Iran, as it voted on Friday to back the referendum on its original date.
Kurdistan claimed it had given the "New Iraq" ample opportunity to show it could work for all Iraqis, including Kurds, since its establishment after the US-led invasion in 2003 brought about the fall of the previous regime fronted by Saddam Hussein.
The Iraqi PM claimed the referendum was in violation of the Iraqi constitution, but Kurdish officials accused Baghdad of having violated more than one-third of the constitution, including article 140 which concerns the fate of disputed areas such as Kirkuk, as well as the government's decision to cut its share of the country's budget in early 2014 following the region's decision to export its oil to the outside world without Baghdad's consent.
"What constitutional article gave you the right to cut the bread of Kurdistan? What constitutional article gave you the right to violate and ignore Article 140?" Kurdish President Masoud Barzani asked when discussing how Baghdad had denied the Peshmerga their share of the budget.
"It is a shame for them to mention the constitution," said Barzani, before stating "every step they took was in violation of the constitution."
While the court order bears significant legal weight, it can not be implemented in practice due to the Kurdistan region having its own police force and government.
The United Nations, the US, Britain and France renewed their rejection of the vote over the weekend, calling on Erbil to resolve land and power-sharing disputes directly with Baghdad.
"All outstanding issues between the Federal Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government should be resolved through structured dialogue and constructive compromise," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Sunday.