Iraqi President launches dialogue initiative over Kurdish referendum

CAIRO- 16 September,2017: A dialogue initiative launched among political leaders to overcome the Kurdish independence referendum's crisis, Iraqi President Fuad Masum said in a statement quoted by Al Sumaria news channel Saturday.

This initiative aims to reach concrete and urgent solutions to the Kurdish crisis without identifying the terms of this initiative.

Masum cancelled his visit to New York, announcing that Prime Minister Heider Al Abadi is tasked to deliver Iraq's speech before the meetings of the General Assembly of the United Nations.

Al Abadi reiterated rejection of a planned referendum on independence of Kurdistan, terming it "a play with fire".

Slated for September 25, the controversial voting has drawn national and foreign calls to be adjourned, while neighboring countries including Turkey and Iran fear it could stoke separatist aspirations among their own sizeable Kurdish minorities.