Iraq MPs seek to sack president over Kurdish referendum

By Muayyad al-Tarfi

BAGHDAD (AA) – Iraqi lawmakers are lobbying to sack President Fuad Masum and Kurdish MPs, amid tension of a controversial referendum on the secession of northern Iraq’s Kurdish region.

MP Hassan Khalati said Tuesday signatures are being collected by lawmakers to sack Masum, a Kurd, for “failing to respect his oath of office”.

“Masum was sworn in to maintain the unity of Iraq and his non-compliance with that means he failed to abide by his oath," Khalati, of the National Alliance bloc, told Anadolu Agency.

MP Asma al-Moussawi called on the Iraqi government to take an action against Kurdish officials, including the Iraqi president.

“There is no need for the presence of Kurdish MPs in parliament since they supported the [independence] referendum,” she said.

The Iraqi parliament on Monday passed a resolution forcing the government to redeploy troops to disputed areas, including the oil-rich Kirkuk city.

The move came in response to a referendum held on Monday in areas under the control of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) as well as territories disputed between Baghdad and Erbil voted on whether to secede from Iraq.

Baghdad, Turkey, Iran, the U.S. and the UN have all spoken out against the poll, saying it will only distract from the ongoing fight against Daesh and further destabilize the region.

Iraq’s central government has threatened to intervene militarily if the vote leads to violence.

KRG President Masoud Barzani has said a Yes win would not result in an automatic declaration of independence but would simply lead to further negotiations with Baghdad.