Iraqi President Fuad 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.

Source: AFP