ERBIL (Sputnik) — Iraqi Kurdistan will not postpone the referendum on the independence of the autonomy from Baghdad, despite the pressure, and will hold it on target date on September 25, President of Iraqi Kurdistan Masoud Barzani said on Friday.
A day before, the officials from Iraqi Kurdistan had expressed their readiness to postpone the upcoming September 25 independence referendum if Iraq, US, UN confirm a set of demanded guarantees.
A large rally of supporters of the independence of Iraqi Kurdistan is taking place in Erbil at one of the stadiums of the city.
The largest pro-independence rally is being held now in Erbil, Iraqi #Kurdistan. #Barzani about to give final campaign speech. pic.twitter.com/9WPgxCCdYz
— Namo Abdulla (@namo_abdulla) 22 сентября 2017 г.
"We gathered here to unanimously say 'yes' to independence, we came to the conviction that it is impossible to stay together with Iraq years ago," Barzani said addressing the rally.
Barzani urged residents of the region to come to "polling stations and make their own choice" on September 25.
Final #KurdistanReferendum rally happening NOW in Kurdistan's capital Erbil before the independence vote, Monday 25 September #YESKurdistan pic.twitter.com/OspHTUKUhA
— Yes for Independence (@Yes_Kurdistan) 22 сентября 2017 г.
In early June, Barzani announced his intention to hold a referendum on the independence of the region from Iraq on September 25. The move has already been widely criticized by Iraqi authorities as well as by a number of other countries, including Iran, Turkey and the United States.
Huge crowds at the final referendum rally in Erbil, capital city of Iraqi Kurdistan region. pic.twitter.com/Q6N45pNftm
— Dâna Nawzar Jaf (@DanaNawzar) 22 сентября 2017 г.
