baghdad iraqi prime minister haider al-abadi face call tuesday take measure range economic blockade military action kurds vote referendum support independence need proceed cautiously abadi try unite iraq since take office focus mainly sectarian hostilities shi ites sunnis trigger civil war islamic state militants seize third country defeat shi ite-led baghdad government kurdish region north struggle years resolve differences oil sensitive issue monday vote likely lead breakaway state dream generations kurds ratchet tensions pose one big challenge abadi try keep iraq together iraqi government rule talk possible secession kurdish-held part northern iraq tuesday projections kurdish rudaw tv channel show support split could 90 percent neighbor iran turkey also fiercely oppose independence north say cause regional chaos also fear secession encourage restive kurdish populations press self-determination abadi shi ite constituency well sunni arabs oppose kurdish independence press take firm action dispute areas multi-ethnic oil city kirkuk could flashpoint widespread instability kurds go far government must show tough face government force must go maintain peace kirkuk areas kurds try control force say mohammed tamim arab sunni lawmaker kirkuk parliament authorize abadi safeguard iraqi unity mandate allow send troop mobilize government troop may easy army spend years fight islamic state recent battle drive group mosul leave many iraq formations exhaust troop fight engage operations islamic state militants west kirkuk near syrian border another option would turn iranian-backed paramilitary group like asaib ahl al-haq already threaten march kirkuk tehran support shi ite muslim group prominent iraq since u.s.-led invasion topple saddam hussein 2003. abadi commander arm force must switch needle fight compass toward kirkuk say hashim al-mouasawi spokesman shi ite nujaba group 10,000 fighters loyal iran fully prepare answer abadi order liberate kirkuk oilfields separatist militias control late fight safeguard prestige state use paramilitary group kurds would spare army fight fellow iraqis risk abadi tensions already high kurdish peshmerga fighters shi ite paramilitary force even though cooperate fight islamic state islamic state largely remove strategic areas ethnic sectarian battle land influence dog iraq could complicate efforts create harmony among many sects communities shi ite paramilitaries kurds clash mean all-out war two best fight force iraq u.s. ally opec oil producer economy shatter conflict vahal ali spokesman masoud barzani president kurdistan regional government say kurds would take step toward independence without pursue peaceful negotiations baghdad government add kurds endless patience attack defend say break laws kurdish people give chance vote part iraqi government give krg three days hand control airports order avoid international air embargo abadi say accord state tv baghdad ask foreign countries stop flight international airports erbil sulaimaniya krg territory iran comply lawmakers call abadi apply economic pressure kurds suffer saddam decades begin build semi-autonomous zone north fall one possibility blockade kurdish areas something vahal ali say would also harm baghdad government government must take tough measure prevent kurdish leaders go far say shi ite lawmaker ammar tuma call shut exit entrance control border cross chase fund kurdish leaders generate illegal oil sales finally deploy iraqi force areas try control force kurdish oil sales without consent government anger iraqi leaders place economic stranglehold kurds may limit success baghdad turkey continue trade north turkey long northern iraq main link outside world krg export hundreds thousands barrel oil per day world market via turkey turkish president tayyip erdogan say iraqi kurds would go hungry country halt flow goods oil across border northern iraq see referendum grave matter national security turkey build good relations barzani kurdish administration iraq include kurdish region turkey third-largest export market 2016. erdogan repeatedly threaten economic sanction kurds response referendum far give specifics pressure act kurds iraq limit options