Turkey warns Iraqi Kurdish referendum risks ‘civil war’

ANKARA: Turkey warned Wednesday that plans by the leadership in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region to hold a referendum on independence could lead to civil war, in Ankara's strongest warning yet against next month's poll, reports AFP.

"In that country (Iraq), which has been through so many problems, a referendum on independence can make the situation even worse," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told the state TRT Haber broadcaster.

"God forbid, it could even bring it to civil war," he added.

Turkey has a substantial Kurdish minority which is sometimes estimated as making up around a quarter of its total population of just under 80 million.

Ankara has in recent years forged strong ties with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq but is extremely wary of any move towards independence by the region.

Turkey warns Iraqi Kurdish referendum risks civil war

ANKARA: Turkey warned Wednesday that plans by the leadership in Iraqs autonomous Kurdish region to hold a referendum on independence could lead to civil war, in Ankaras strongest warning yet against next months poll, reports AFP. In that country (Iraq), which has been through so many problems, a referendum on independence can make the situation even worse, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told the state TRT Haber broadcaster. God forbid, it could even bring it to civil war, he added. Turkey has a substantial Kurdish minority which is sometimes estimated as making up around a quarter of its total population of just under 80 million. Ankara has in recent years forged strong ties with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq but is extremely wary of any move towards independence by the region.