Turkey's Erdogan to discuss northern Iraq vote with Iraqi PM

ANKARA – Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan will meet Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi during his visit to the United States this week and discuss their concerns about northern Iraq's independence referendum.

Turkey, the United States and other Western powers have advised Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region to cancel the vote, worrying that tensions between Baghdad and Erbil would distract from the war on Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Despite the requests and concerns, Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani said on Friday the referendum would go ahead as planned.