Iraq Kurd leader delays independence vote announcement

There has been uncertainty about whether the vote will go ahead as Iraq's key allies the United States and Iran.

A peshmerga fighter stands watch on a roof as the Iraqi Kurdish leader (unseen) addresses the crowd during a rally to urge people to vote in the upcoming independence referendum in Arbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq, on S

ERBIL: Iraqi Kurdish leader Massud Barzani on Saturday delayed a scheduled news conference on a controversial independence referendum he has called for next week as pressure mounts for a postponement.

There has been uncertainty about whether the vote will go ahead as Iraq's key allies the United States and Iran, as well as powerful neighbour Turkey, have stepped up their opposition.

"The news conference will take place on Sunday and the time and venue will be announced later," Barzani's office said without elaborating.