On Wednesday, Iraqi officials said the Kurdish-run north of the country could not vote this month on a draft constitution, a document perceived by Iraqi Arabs as an effort to expand Kurdish authority at the expense of the central government.
Tension between Kurds and Arabs, particularly around the northern, oil-rich area of Kirkuk, is seen as a major threat to Iraqi stability.
The election commission chairman, Faraj al-Haidari, said Kurds can't hold a referendum on a proposed constitution on the same day as elections for a regional parliament on July 25.
"The commission now has little time to prepare for the referendum, and we also have shortages and problems with vote papers and printing material," al-Haidari said.
The draft constitution would expand the boundaries of the Kurdish-run region to include Kirkuk, something strongly opposed by the Arab residents of the disputed city.
The Kurdish parliament planned to discuss the issue Thursday in the regional capital, Irbil.
Source: Associated Press writer Sameer N. Yacoub contributed to this report.
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