Iraq’s Maliki criticizes Barzani’s policies over independence

Former Iraqi PM and the head of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s Dawa party, head of the State of the Law coalition, Nuri al-Maliki expressed his strong opposition against the Kurdistan Region’s independence and lashed out at Massoud Barzani.

کد خبر: ۶۹۹۴۵۸

تاریخ: ۱۰ خرداد ۱۳۹۶ - ۱۲:۳۱

Maliki, who is also a prominent member of the ruling Shiite National Alliance, said the use of force may be necessary to "deter” the policies of Masoud Barzani and his efforts to establish a greater Kurdistan, rudaw reported.

Maliki accused Barzani of making statements about holding an independence referendum for "domestic use” and to deviate from the differences between his Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).

Maliki claims that Barzani is preparing for a greater, united Kurdistan.

Crises inside Iraqi Kurdistan deepened in August 2015 following the expiration of Massoud Barzani’s term as president as he refused to step down and remains unofficially in office. According to the law, Barzani cannot run for presidency anymore.

Barzani has closed the Kurdish parliament in October 2015 after parliament’s Speaker Yusuf Mohammed Sadiq, from Gorran, was prevented by Barzani forces from entering the Kurdish capital of Erbil.

The Kurdish opposition accuses Barzani and his KDP of using the independence issue as means to stay in power and monopoly it.

In February, Barzani had called for a non-binding referendum on independence from the rest of Iraq, taking advantage of growing international support, especially in light of the ongoing war against the Islamic State (IS).