3 November 2017

Iraqi Kurds’ Independence Dreams Dashed as President Steps Down

by Isabel Coles and Ali Nabhan

Masoud Barzani is to step down as president of Iraq’s semiautonomous Kurdish region just a month after an independence referendum reversed years of political and military gains made by the Kurds and dashed their dreams of statehood. Mr. Barzani “refused to remain” in office beyond Nov. 1, in a letter read to the Kurdish parliament on Sunday before a session to discuss how the president’s powers should be redistributed. He will continue to play a role in politics without holding any formal position, a member of parliament said, but didn’t give more details.

No comments: