PM Abadi says Baghdad will not discuss results of Kurdish independence referendum, calling it 'unconstitutional'.
The Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said, in a speech broadcast on state TV on Monday night.
"We are not ready to discuss or have a dialogue about the results of the referendum because it is unconstitutional," he said.
"We are not ready to discuss or have a dialogue about the results of the referendum because it is unconstitutional," Abadi said in a speech broadcast on state TV on Monday night.
"Most of the problems of the [Kurdish] region are internal ones, not and not with Baghdad, and will be increased with the calls for separation," Abadi said, adding: "The economic and financial problems the region is suffering from are the result of corruption and mis-administration," the prime minister said.
Iraqi Kurds count referendum votes
Masoud Barzani, the leader of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), said the referendum is not binding and was meant to be a legitimate mandate to negotiate with Baghdad and neighbouring countries over the secession of the Kurdish-controlled region from Iraq.
Erbil-based Rudaw TV, citing the Independent High Elections and Referendum Commission, said 78 percent of the more than five million eligible voters turned out to vote.
In Kirkuk, authorities declared a curfew an hour and a half before polls closed as jubilant Kurds started to celebrate.
The vote was expected to deliver a comfortable "yes", and final results should be announced in 72 hours.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed regret that the Kurds have gone ahead with the referendum.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed regret that the Kurds have gone ahead with the referendum.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Guterres noted the referendum was "unilaterally declared, included disputed areas" and was opposed by Iraqi authorities and the global community.
The spokesman said Guterres regretted that opportunities for negotiations were not seized and viewed the decision to hold the vote as potentially destabilising.
The vote held Monday was billed by the Kurdish leadership as an exercise in self-determination. To Baghdad, the vote threatens a redrawing of Iraq's borders, while leaders in Turkey and Iran fear the move would embolden their own Kurdish populations.
The Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said, in a speech broadcast on state TV on Monday night.
"We are not ready to discuss or have a dialogue about the results of the referendum because it is unconstitutional," he said.
"We are not ready to discuss or have a dialogue about the results of the referendum because it is unconstitutional," Abadi said in a speech broadcast on state TV on Monday night.
"Most of the problems of the [Kurdish] region are internal ones, not and not with Baghdad, and will be increased with the calls for separation," Abadi said, adding: "The economic and financial problems the region is suffering from are the result of corruption and mis-administration," the prime minister said.
Iraqi Kurds count referendum votes
Masoud Barzani, the leader of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), said the referendum is not binding and was meant to be a legitimate mandate to negotiate with Baghdad and neighbouring countries over the secession of the Kurdish-controlled region from Iraq.
Erbil-based Rudaw TV, citing the Independent High Elections and Referendum Commission, said 78 percent of the more than five million eligible voters turned out to vote.
In Kirkuk, authorities declared a curfew an hour and a half before polls closed as jubilant Kurds started to celebrate.
The vote was expected to deliver a comfortable "yes", and final results should be announced in 72 hours.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed regret that the Kurds have gone ahead with the referendum.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed regret that the Kurds have gone ahead with the referendum.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Guterres noted the referendum was "unilaterally declared, included disputed areas" and was opposed by Iraqi authorities and the global community.
The spokesman said Guterres regretted that opportunities for negotiations were not seized and viewed the decision to hold the vote as potentially destabilising.
The vote held Monday was billed by the Kurdish leadership as an exercise in self-determination. To Baghdad, the vote threatens a redrawing of Iraq's borders, while leaders in Turkey and Iran fear the move would embolden their own Kurdish populations.
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