Baghdad, Oct 12 (AP) The spokesman of Iraq's state-sanctioned militias says the Kurdish leader behind lastmonth's vote for independence is "worse than Daesh," referringto the Islamic State group.
But Karim al-Nouri, spokesman for the PopularMobilization Forces, said today they have no immediate plansto move toward the disputed oil-rich city of Kirkuk, and wouldfollow orders from Baghdad.
Kurdish forces known as the peshmerga closed roads toKirkuk early today after Kurdish authorities warned thatBaghdad was moving forces in the direction of the Kurdish-heldcity. They reopened them later in the day.
Last month's vote, spearheaded by Kurdish regionalpresident Masoud Barzani, escalated a long-running disputewith the central government.
The mostly Shiite PMF includes several groups backed byneighboring Iran, which was also staunchly opposed to thereferendum. (AP)RB.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.