Arshad al-Salihi
KRG will push for referendum until last minute: Turkmen leader
Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) leader Masoud Barzani will push for a Sept. 25 statehood referendum for the autonomous region in northern Iraq until the last minute, but may withdraw from the move if Baghdad and Washington meet its demands, a Turkmen leader has said.
Iraqi Turkmens want role in Kirkuk fight, demand arms and salary from Baghdad
Iraqi Turkmens have said they want to help defend the northern Iraqi province of Kirkuk against Islamist jihadists along with Kurdish militants and have asked Baghdad to supply arms and a budget.
"We also want to contribute to the defense of Kirkuk with the Peshmerga," Arshad al-Salihi, the head of the Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITC), told state-run Anadolu Agency on Nov. 28.