IRBIL, Iraq -- Masoud Barzani, the president of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, says Iraqi Kurds will hold a referendum on independence on Sept. 25.
Barzani announced the vote Wednesday on Twitter.
Hamin Hawrami, a senior presidential adviser, said on his own Twitter account that the decision follows a meeting of the major Kurdish political parties in Irbil, the region's capital.
Iraq's Kurdish region, with a population of about 5 million, already enjoys a high degree of autonomy, including its own parliament and armed forces. But relations with the central government in Baghdad have nosedived in recent years over a range of issues.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said in April that he respects the Kurdish right to vote on independence, but he did not think the timing was right for the move.
I am pleased to announce that the date for the independence referendum has been set for Monday, September 25, 2017
— Masoud Barzani (@masoud_barzani)
Today's historical moment. President Barzani along w/ all political parties who decided to have referendum on September 25.Founding fathers
— Hemin Hawrami (@heminhawrami)
