LARA JAKES
IRBIL، Iraq (AP), 25 April – Time is running out for the Iraqi government to decide on a power-sharing agreement to end a political crisis roiling the country، the president of Iraq`s self-ruled Kurdish region warned Wednesday.
Without an agreement، Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani said، Iraq could face a political revolt that may scuttle hopes for a unified، stable nation just months after the departure of U.S. troops.
Iraqi opposition parties and Iraqi Kurds in general have run out of patience with feeling sidelined in Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki`s Shiite-led government، Barzani told The Associated Press in a 45-minute interview in his office outside the Iraqi Kurdish regional capital of Irbil.
’There is a very dangerous political crisis in the country،’ Barzani said.
However، he stopped short of predicting whether al-Maliki would be ousted from power anytime soon.
Barzani also called for a September deadline for resolving the political impasse to offer Iraqi Kurds، who are holding a regional vote then، an incentive not to break away from Baghdad.
Tensions between the central government in Baghdad and the Kurdish region long have been strained، and Barzani has threatened to break off the region from Iraq before.
But relations have sunk to a new low after a series of actions by Baghdad – most recently over approval of contracts with foreign oil companies – have curbed the regional autonomy that Kurds stridently defend.
Barzani said that he has been trying to get bickering leaders of Iraq`s political blocs back to the negotiating table – an effort that has malingered for months. ’For the time being، we are in a consultation process،’ he said.’
But I would like to stress with you one fact: The current situation، the status quo، does not suffice as an option for us،’ he said.
’This time، the timeline will not be open-ended as it has been in the past.’If the impasse doesn`t break before local elections in September، he said Iraqi Kurds may hold a referendum to decide، as Barzani put it، on whether they want to ’live under a dictatorial regime’ controlled by Baghdad or in an independent state.
Al-Maliki`s media adviser Ali al-Moussawi declined to comment Wednesday when told about Barzani`s remarks and the specter of a possible independence vote by Iraqi Kurds.
Barzani also said he ’wholeheartedly’ supports Sunni efforts to create their own self-rule regions in Iraq – an action that the Shiite government has sought to avoid، and that Washington fears would end hopes for long-term stability.
Associated Press Writers Yahya Barzanji in Irbil، Iraq، and Sinan Salaheddin in Baghdad contributed to this report.
