ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Iraqi government warned it could take further measures against Kurdistan after the regional government rejected a series of orders from Baghdad responding to the independence referendum. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), after a meeting on Thursday, issued a statement bashing Baghdad’s measures as “illegal” and “unconstitutional.” Saad Hadithi, Iraqi government spokesperson, maintained that the rulings are legal and the government took take further measures. The KRG rejected a twelve point order issued by the Iraqi parliament and government against the Kurdistan Region including a flight ban, deployment of forces to the Peshmerga-held Kurdistani areas such as the oil-rich Kirkuk province, and calling for foreign missions to close their offices in Kurdistan. The KRG described the resolutions as “collective punishment of the Kurdistan nation.” Baghdad is pressing forward with its measures. “Tomorrow evening the border gates will be closed and flights halted,” said Hadithi. “Only domestic flights will continue.” He said the Iraqi government’s decrees were to force “all parties to respect the constitution” and the Kurdistan Region should abide by it. He ruled out any possibility of a military incursion into the Kurdistan Region. Hadithi accused the KRG of “holding the referendum in a unilateral way” and said Baghdad would not hold discussions on the vote.
