Iraq recaps opposition to planned Kurdish voteUNITED NATIONS (AP) — Iraq's top diplomat is reiterating its government's opposition to Iraqi Kurds' planned independence vote next week (all times local). Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari told the U.S. General Assembly on Saturday that the central government views the vote as unconstitutional and divisive. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has even said he's prepared to intervene militarily if the vote leads to violence. And he told world leaders on Saturday: "In case innocent lives of the U.S. are lost because of this suicide attack, Trump will be held totally responsible." The government and opposition had agreed to hold the vote by the end of 2017.

Source: Daily Sun September 23, 2017 21:45 UTC