Sunday, 24 September, 2017 , 15:42 AFP — Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Sunday Baghdad would take the "necessary measures" to protect Iraqi unity, speaking on the eve of an independence referendum in the Kurdish autonomous region.

Sunday, 24 September, 2017 , 15:32 AFP — Iraqi Kurdish leader Massud Barzani, on the eve of a disputed independence referendum, said Sunday that his people's "partnership with Baghdad has failed" and urged them to go to the polls.

Sunday, 24 September, 2017 , 15:00 AFP — Iraqi Kurdish leader Massud Barzani, on the eve of an independence referendum he has championed in defiance of the central government, said Sunday that his people's "partnership with Baghdad has failed".

Sunday, 24 September, 2017 , 13:22 AFP — Iraqi Kurds were preparing to vote in a referendum set for Monday on independence for their autonomous northern region, despite warnings within the country and from neighbours Iran and Turkey.

Sunday, 24 September, 2017 , 12:49 AFP — Iran said Sunday it had blocked all flights to and from Iraq's Kurdistan at the request of Baghdad, a day before the autonomous region holds an independence referendum opposed by Tehran.

Sunday, 24 September, 2017 , 12:20 AFP — Iran said Sunday it had blocked all flights to and from Iraq's Kurdistan at the request of Baghdad, a day before the autonomous region holds an independence referendum that Tehran opposes.

Sunday, 24 September, 2017 , 11:17 AFP — Iraqi Kurds were preparing to vote in a referendum set for Monday on independence for their autonomous northern region, despite warnings within the country and from its neighbours Iran and Turkey.

Saturday, 23 September, 2017 , 16:20 AFP — Residents of the multi-ethnic city of Kirkuk north of Baghdad were stocking up with supplies on Saturday ahead of the planned controversial referendum on independence for Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region.

Saturday, 23 September, 2017 , 15:08 AFP — A US-backed militia has seized Syria's biggest pre-war gas treatment facility from the Islamic State group in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor, a spokesman and monitor said Saturday.

Saturday, 23 September, 2017 , 10:36 AFP — Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim warned on Saturday that Ankara's actions in response to a controversial independence referendum in Iraq's Kurdistan region would have "economic and security dimensions".