Arbil (Iraq), Oct 29 (AFP) Massud Barzani, the presidentof the autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq, told a closed-doorsession of parliament Sunday he was stepping down amid thefall-out from a controversial independence referendum.
"After November 1, I will no longer exercise myfunctions, and I reject any extension of my mandate," the 71-year-old said in a letter read out to parliament in theKurdish capital Arbil, a copy of which was obtained by AFP.
"Changing the law on the presidency of Kurdistan orprolonging the presidential term is not acceptable," said thearchitect of the September 25 independence vote, which led tothe Kurds losing to Baghdad's forces disputed territory towhich they laid claim.
"I ask parliament to meet to fill the vacancy in power,to fulfil the mission and to assume the powers of thepresidency of Kurdistan", said the letter.
Barzani also said he would continue "remain a peshmerga(Kurdish fighter) among the ranks of the people of Kurdistanand I will continue to defend the achievements of the peopleof Kurdistan".
Sunday's parliamentary session was held behind closeddoors because of "sensitive questions" that would bediscussed, deputies said earlier.
Officials from Barzani's Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)had told journalists ahead of the session that the letter tobe read out would announce he was stepping aside. (AFP)UZM.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.