US secretary of state Rex Tillerson asked Iraqi Kurds to postpone their independence referendum during a phone call with Kurdistan Regional Government president Masoud Barzani on August 10, 2017. Vincent Thian / AP Photo
US secretary of state Rex Tillerson asked Iraqi Kurds to postpone their independence referendum during a phone call with Kurdistan Regional Government president Masoud Barzani on August 10, 2017. VincShow more
Iraqi Kurds reject US request to postpone referendum
US secretary of state told Kurdish president the vote would detract from other issues such as defeating ISIL