Speaker Salim al-Juburi said the vote required the government to "take all steps to protect the unity of Iraq and open a serious dialogue" with Iraqi Kurdish leaders.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and other top officials have said repeatedly that the referendum planned for September 25 would violate Iraq’s constitution.
Kurdish leaders plan to hold the plebiscite not only in the three northern provinces where they have long enjoyed autonomy but also in other historically Kurdish-majority areas of Iraq that Kurdish forces captured during the battle against the ISIS terrorist group.
Tuesday's vote in the federal parliament was held after 80 lawmakers asked for the issue to be added to the day's agenda.
The Kurdish referendum is scheduled for September 25, but the central government in Baghdad is opposed to the vote.
Regional players like Iran and Turkey have also voiced concern about the planned referendum, arguing that it could create further instability in the region.
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(AhlulBayt News Agency) - The Iraqi parliament voted on Tuesday to oppose an independence referendum planned by Iraqi Kurdish leaders for later this month prompting a walkout by Kurdish lawmakers.
12 September 2017 - 12:41
News ID: 853792
