Supreme Court suspends Sept. 25 referendum in Iraq's Kurdish region

Iraq's Supreme Court has temporarily suspended the northern Kurdish region's referendum on independence that was scheduled for next week.
The verdict came after a request from Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to the federal Supreme Court about the "unconstitutionality of the separation of any province or region in Iraq."

A statement released from the court on Monday says it "issued a national order to suspend the referendum procedures scheduled ... until the resolution of the cases regarding the constitutionality of said decision."

Iraq's Kurdish region plans to hold the vote on support for independence on Sept. 25 in the three provinces that make up the region, as well as disputed territories claimed by both the Kurdish region and Baghdad.

Baghdad, regional leaders and the United States — a key ally of Iraq's Kurds — have repeatedly called on the region to hold off on the vote, fearing it could contribute to instability as Iraqi forces continue to battle the Daesh terror group.

The Kurdish region has repeatedly ignored calls from Baghdad that the vote is unconstitutional and it is unclear if the federal court's ruling will alter plans to carry out the referendum.

Erbil has rejected Baghdad's claim and Kurdistan's president, Masoud Barzani, ruled out postponing the vote. The parliament of Kurdistan voted Friday in favour of holding the independence referendum.

The planned vote has also alarmed Iraq's neighbours - Turkey, Iran and Syria - who are worried it will encourage their Kurdish minorities to break away.

The referendum is planned to be held in Kurdistan and disputed areas including the oil-rich province of Kirkuk.