Maliki rejects UN-sponsored initiative on planned KRG referendum

Iraqi Vice President Nouri Al-Maliki has rejected an initiative sponsored by the United Nations regarding a planned independence referendum in northern Iraq, saying that it contains several elements that are against the country’s constitution. The U.N.-sponsored initiative had aimed at finding a solution to the disputes between Baghdad and Arbil on the issue of the Sept. 25 referendum for the independence of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Maliki rejected the initiative by the U.N. envoy to Iraq because it “contains some implicit sections that are unconstitutional” adding that Arbil “has to respect” the ruling by the Iraqi Supreme Court that temporarily suspended the vote. A day earlier, Barzani said Baghdad has only three days to come up with an alternative in place of the referendum or the votes will go ahead as scheduled on Sept. 25. Saying that the purpose of the referendum “is to tell the world that Kurdish people want independence”, Barzani noted that any other alternative must achieve the same objective.