Kurdish Iraq's referendum could worsen situation, lead to civil war: Turkish FM

A planned independence referendum in Kurdish northern Iraq could make the situation in the region worse and even lead to a civil war, Turkey's foreign minister warned on Wednesday.

Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region has said it would hold a referendum on independence on Sept. 25, brushing aside international warnings, including from Turkey, that it could trigger conflict with Baghdad.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu made the comments during an interview with broadcaster TRT Haber.