Kurdish regional government rejects measures adopted by Iraq in wake of its independence vote

The Kurdish regional government has rejected measures adopted by Iraq in the wake of its independence vote as Baghdad has decided to ban flight to Arbil. The Kurdish Regional Government yesterday said it rejects all the decisions taken by the Iraqi government and Parliament and regards them as collective punishment against the Kurds.

In a first concrete move by Iraqi government in retaliation for the non-binding referendum, all foreign flights to and from Arbil will be suspended from this evening. Arbil airport director Talar Faiq Salih said following a controversial independence referendum, all international flights without exception to and from Arbil will stop following a decision by the Iraqi



cabinet.

Iraqi lawmakers had passed a resolution calling on Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to "take all necessary measures to maintain Iraq's unity" including by deploying security forces to disputed areas.

Earlier, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's office said he had been told by Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim in a call that Turkey would break with past practice and deal only with the Baghdad government when purchasing oil from Iraq.

Meanwhile, Mr Yildirim said he wants to hold a summit with Iranian and Iraqi leaders to coordinate how to respond to the controversial Iraqi Kurdish independence referendum.