Iraq calls on Kurdistan to surrender border posts

CAIRO – 24 September 2017: Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi called on the Kurdish regional government on Sunday to surrender the border posts and airports falling under its control to the Iraqi government, on the background of the Kurdish independence referendum to be held on Monday in northern Iraq.

Al-Abadi chaired the Iraqi National Security Council's meeting, where they stressed that the planned Kurdish referendum on independence is unconstitutional and threatens the stability and security of the country. The council asked the foreign countries to stop oil trading with the Kurdish region and to deal with the central government in regards to airports and borders.

The meeting also reviewed the Iraqi army's recent victories over the Islamic State terrorist group militants in Hawija region, west of the oil city of Kirkuk and one of two areas of the country still under the control of the militants.