The Southern Kurdistan administration has announced that they are suspending the outcome of the referendum held on September 25.

The announcement by the Southern Kurdistan administration said, “Everybody is taking on a historic responsibility so the dangerous situation Iraq and Kurdistan are facing doesn’t translate into clashes between Iraqi and Peshmerga forces. The clashes to date have resulted in losses in both sides, and it could lead to a bloody war and scramble the social fabric among the constituents of Iraq.”

The statement continued with the following propositions for the “resolution of issues”:

“In the face of the tensions and dangerous situation Iraq and Kurdistan are facing, all of us have a historic responsibility to prevent the situation from devolving into further war between the Iraqi forces and the Peshmerga.

The clashes and attacks between Iraqi forces and the Peshmerga that started on October 16, 2017 have hurt both sides. The continuation of this may lead to more bloodshed, and even cause a social rupture among the constituents.

It is clear that a war between these two sides will have no winner. On the contrary, it will hurt both sides dearly in every aspect of life. For this reason, due to our duty for the peoples of Kurdistan and Iraq, we are announcing the following to the Iraqi government, the Iraqi public and the world:

1- Our demand that all clashes and any and all military operations in the Kurdistan region be halted urgently.

2- That the outcome of the referendum held in Iraqi Kurdistan have been suspended.

3- Our demand that talks based on the Iraqi constitution start between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Federal government.”