Iraq president blames Kurdish poll for Kirkuk assault

Iraqi President Fuad Masum called for a dialogue between the central government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan regional leadership to resolve the crisis triggered by the Kurdish independence referendum.

Masum on Tuesday blamed a Kurdish independence referendum for triggering a military intervention by Iraqi forces to take control of the oil-rich Kirkuk province.

"Holding a referendum on the Kurdistan region's independence from Iraq stirred grave disagreements between the central government and the government of Kurdistan," Masum, who is himself a Kurd, said in a televised address.

That "led to federal security forces retaking direct control of Kirkuk," he said.

Masum is himself a Kurd and holds a largely ceremonial role in the Iraqi state where most power lies with the prime minister who belongs to the Shi'ite majority.