Iraq's parliament has rejected Kurdish plans to hold an independence referendum aimed at creating a Kurdish state in Iraq's nothern territory, a lawmaker announced on Tuesday.
The resolution, which labelled the ballot due to take place on September 25 a "threat to … the civil peace and regional security", authorises Haider al-Abadi, Iraq's prime minister, to take any measures necessary to preserve Iraq's existing borders.
"Kurdish lawmakers walked out of the session but the decision to reject the referendum was passed by a majority," Mohammed al-Karbouli, an Iraqi MP, said.
Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi and other top officials have said repeatedly the referendum would violate Iraq's constitution.
On Tuesday Abadi reiterated his position, adding "imposing a fait accompli will not work. We will not allow the partition of Iraq".
"I call upon the Kurdish leadership to come to Baghdad and conclude a dialogue," Abadi said at a news conference.
The Iraqi Kurdish parliament is expected to meet on Thursday for the first time since October 2015 in response to the decision, according to officials.
Majid Shingali, a Kurdish lawmaker, said the vote was not binding and will not be accepted by the 111 member regional legislature.
"This decision has no value and we will not implement it," he said.
Authorities in Iraq's Kurdish region announced in June this year the decision to hold an election on independence.
The referendum on whether to secede from Iraq was due to be held in the three governorates – Erbil, Dohuk and Sulaymaniyah - that constitute the nation's Kurdish region, and in areas of disputed territory currently under Kurdish military control, including the oil-rich province of Kirkuk.