Iraq's government will take "necessary measures" to preserve national unity, prime minister Haider Al Abadi said on the eve of a controversial independence referendum in the country's Kurdish region.
"To take a unilateral decision affecting the unity of Iraq and its security, and the security of the region, with a referendum on separation is unconstitutional and against civil peace," Mr Al Abadi said on Sunday.
"We will take the necessary measures to preserve the unity of the country," he said, without specifying what action his government might take. "We won't engage with the referendum or its results."
Mr Al Abadi had warned earlier of military intervention if the referendum led to violence.
The semi-autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan region is holding the vote despite pressure from Baghdad and the international community, who have warned that it would destabilise the region and affect the fight against ISIL in which Iraqi Kurd forces have played a key role.
The Iraqi Kurd president on Sunday called for people to take part in the vote peacefully and again accused Baghdad leaving the Kurds no option.
"We have tried our best to find a solution with Baghdad with the help of international community but Baghdad's central government has forced us to take this measure," Masoud Barzani said.
"The partnership with Baghdad has failed and we will not return to it," he said in Erbil, capital of Kurdistan region.
Relations between Baghdad and Erbil started to disintegrate when "Iraq violated the constitution and when it cut our budget in 2014", he said.
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Read more:
Iraqi Kurdistan independence referendum: Seven key points
Referendum excitement hits fever-pitch in some cities — but others are wary
Wisdom has been in short supply during ill-conceived referendum campaign
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Mr Barzani dismissed fears that the referendum could have wider repercussions, saying it was not being held "to draw new borders" and that Iraqi Kurds "will respect laws on international boundaries".
The vote received backing from Mr Barzani's Kurdish Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the two main parties in Kurdistan Regional Government, and the Kurdistan Islamic Union, at a meeting earlier on Sunday.
Hemin Hawrami, a senior aide to Mr Barzani, said the parties had also agreed that the referendum would go ahead in the multi-ethnic city of Kirkuk, which is claimed by the Kurds but is not part of the Kurdistan region. The PUK was earlier divided over whether the vote should be held in the city, which has been controlled by Kurdish forces since they recaptured it from ISIL in 2014.
Mr Barzani said Monday's referendum vote would be "the first step in a long process to negotiate independence".
"The international community will accept the reality" of an independent Kurdistan, he said.
Although Kurds are confident of a vote in favour of independence, some fear the possible consequences.
"My heart says 'yes' for the referendum, but my brain says no, unity is everything," said Mehvan Abdalla, a doctor in Erbil. "But on the other hand Baghdad has violated the Iraqi constitution by cutting off 17 per cent of oil revenue that constitutionally should go to Kurdistan."
He said prime minister Al Abadi would not allow Iraq to break up on his watch.
"Kurdistan is trapped by land around all its borders with no sea or port, so it could be bottle-necked, squeezed out and starved if enemies wish. Nothing will change much no matter what the result is."
Sara Ahmed, a law student at the University of Duhok, said she was certain the referendum would result in a yes vote.
"This has been a dream for all Kurds to achieve independence and to finally say that we belong to a state," she said.
"However, we fear of what will happen after Monday's vote. We fear for our fate."
Iran and Turkey, which border the Iraqi Kurdistan region, strongly oppose the referendum for fear it could stoke separatist movements among their own Kurdish populations. Iran closed its airspace to flights from the Kurdistan region on Sunday and has warned that it will close its land borders if the vote takes place.
Iranian forces also began "war games" involving artillery, armoured and airborne units in the Oshnavieh region near the border with Iraqi Kurdistan that the state broadcaster IRIB said were part of annual events to mark the beginning of the 1980-1988 war with Iraq. Clashes with Iranian Kurdish militant groups based in Iraq are fairly common in the area. Turkey has been holding military drills near its border with the Kurdish region since last week.
The United States, Iraqi Kurdistan's main backer, reiterated its opposition to the referendum in call between secretary of state Rex Tillerson and Mr Al Abadi on Saturday after Mr Barzani announced that it would go ahead.
Mr Tillerson expressed Washington's concerns and offered its support for "maintaining the unity of Iraq", Mr Al Abadi said on his official Twitter account.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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Scoreline
Chelsea 1
Azpilicueta (36')
West Ham United 1
Hernandez (73')
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Match info
What: Fifa Club World Cup play-off
Who: Al Ain v Team Wellington
Where: Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
When: Wednesday, kick off 7.30pm
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MORE ON THE US DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group H
Juventus v Valencia, Tuesday, midnight (UAE)
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Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?
Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
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How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
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Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
The five pillars of Islam
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Why the Tourist Club?
Originally, The Club (which many people chose to call the “British Club”) was the only place where one could use the beach with changing rooms and a shower, and get refreshments.
In the early 1970s, the Government of Abu Dhabi wanted to give more people a place to get together on the beach, with some facilities for children. The place chosen was where the annual boat race was held, which Sheikh Zayed always attended and which brought crowds of locals and expatriates to the stretch of beach to the left of Le Méridien and the Marina.
It started with a round two-storey building, erected in about two weeks by Orient Contracting for Sheikh Zayed to use at one these races. Soon many facilities were planned and built, and members were invited to join.
Why it was called “Nadi Al Siyahi” is beyond me. But it is likely that one wanted to convey the idea that this was open to all comers. Because there was no danger of encountering alcohol on the premises, unlike at The Club, it was a place in particular for the many Arab expatriate civil servants to join. Initially the fees were very low and membership was offered free to many people, too.
Eventually there was a skating rink, bowling and many other amusements.
Frauke Heard-Bey is a historian and has lived in Abu Dhabi since 1968.
