kirkuk iraq police deploy northern iraqi oil city kirkuk prevent outbreak ethnic violence ahead independence referendum strongly oppose central baghdad government western regional power kurdish region plan hold sept. 25 vote despite iraqi government warn play fire u.s. declarations could undermine fight islamic state militants referendum could raise particular tension kirkuk kurds vie turkmen arabs power turkey move detachment tank troop border northern iraq say breakup iraq syria kurds gain territory influence war islamic state could stir global conflict kurdish security city police erect checkpoints across kirkuk kurd kill clash guard turkmen political party office city two kurds turkmen security guard wound clash break kurdish convoy celebrate referendum carry kurdish flag drive turkmen party office accord security source kurdish dead wound among celebrate say turkey long see protector iraq turkmen minority turkey defense minister warn tuesday breakup iraq syria could dire consequences change mean violation iraq territorial integrity pose major risk turkey nurettin canikli say ankara disruption syria iraq territorial integrity ignite big global conflict unseen end turkey large kurdish population south country fear referendum could embolden outlaw pkk wag insurgency southeast since 1980s canikli say ankara could allow formation ethnic-based state south country nobody doubt take every step make every decision stop growth risk factor say tensions rise kurdish-led provincial council erbil vote month include kirkuk referendum despite fact city lie outside official boundaries autonomous kurdistan region kurdish peshmerga fighters prevent kirkuk oilfields fall islamic state hand seize city dispute territories iraqi army collapse face advance 2014. recent months drive back across iraq remain dig close kirkuk iraq announce tuesday start attack dislodge islamic state town ana push westward toward al-qaim border post syria iranian-backed iraqi shi ite muslim militias highlight broad peril emanate vote threaten remove peshmerga kirkuk kurds persist hold vote kurdish authorities show sign bow despite intense international pressure regional appeal least ally washington call vote baghdad say unconstitutional prelude break country friction erbil baghdad simmer years kurds complain central government pay salaries civil servants kurdistan baghdad strongly oppose kurdish sales oil without consent two side cooperate battle islamic state many iraqis wonder whether central government unite country suffer sectarian ethnic violence since u.s.-led invasion topple saddam hussein 2003. iraqi kurdish president massoud barzani say monday would proceed vote absence international guarantee baghdad would hold talk kurdish independence although u.s.-backed iraqi force dislodge islamic state urban stronghold mosul dash dream caliphate security officials say jihadists wage guerrilla war new attempt destabilize iraq three people kill 34 injure two suicide bombers target restaurant road northern towns tikrit beiji tuesday interior ministry say security force kill third suicide bomber outside restaurant police deploy iraqi oil city tensions rise kurdish independence vote