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Iraqi Kurds’ Independence Dreams Dashed as President Steps Down

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10.29.2017 at 04:52pm

Iraqi Kurds’ Independence Dreams Dashed as President Steps Down by Isabel Coles and Ali Nabhan – Wall Street Journal

Masoud Barzani is to step down as president of Iraq’s semiautonomous Kurdish region just a month after an independence referendum reversed years of political and military gains made by the Kurds and dashed their dreams of statehood.

Mr. Barzani “refused to remain” in office beyond Nov. 1, in a letter read to the Kurdish parliament on Sunday before a session to discuss how the president’s powers should be redistributed. He will continue to play a role in politics without holding any formal position, a member of parliament said, but didn’t give more details.

The resignation is the latest fallout from the Sept. 25 referendum, which raised fears of a civil war between Kurds and Iraqis.

Mr. Barzani insisted on holding the ballot despite objections from Baghdad, regional powers, the U.S. and even some of his own associates, who warned against alienating the Kurds’ allies and further antagonizing their enemies.

The region voted last month for Kurdistan to secede but Iraq’s central government said the referendum was illegal…

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