baghdad iraqi pro-government paramilitaries launch offensive kurdish troop tuesday near turkish frontier push towards strategic border cross oil export pipeline hub baghdad say must come control iraqi government transform balance power north country since launch campaign last week seize back territory kurds govern autonomous region three northern provinces also seize swathe territory northern iraq kurds hold referendum independence last month baghdad call illegal baghdad respond seize back city kirkuk oil-producing areas around territory kurds capture islamic state prime minister haidar abadi order army recapture dispute territory also demand central control iraq border cross turkey inside kurdish autonomous region kurdish official say kurdish security force know peshmerga successfully beat back advance iranian-backed pro-government paramilitaries region rabi 40 kilometers 25 miles south fish-khabur border area fish-khabur strategically vital oil kurdish government-held part northern iraq cross pipeline turkey main route area international export crucial kurdish independence bid abadi tell news conference baghdad discuss issue border cross turkish counterpart benali yildirim wednesday ankara fight far take place outside kurdish autonomous region fish-khabur locate within assault border cross would mark major escalation bring government troop undisputed kurdish territory crude oil flow iraqi kurdistan pipeline turkey port ceyhan slightly 300,000 barrel per day tuesday half level iraqi takeover kirkuk ship source london say pump rate rise 50,000 bpd since monday iraqi military spokesman deny clash area iraqi security source baghdad right activist northwest iraq say confrontation start dawn still go midday peshmerga repel attack push popular mobilisation back rabi tweet krg president masoud barzani media advisor hemin hawrami military spokesman baghdad say response clash fight central government kurds particularly tricky unite state close ally side arm train kurds central government army fight islamic state u.s. secretary state rex tillerson visit baghdad week abadi rebuff call iraq reject role iran-backed shi ite paramilitaries fight alongside government troop take hard line kurds iraqi government security advisor say monday baghdad aim bring three-way border cross turkey syria fish-khabur control decline say military move prepare iraqi government advance past week achieve comparatively little violence kurds mostly withdraw without fight nevertheless amnesty international report least 11 civilians kill tens thousands displace kurdish areas tuz khurmato town south kirkuk say image videos photos dozens testimonies indicate hundreds properties loot rampage target kurdish part ethnically mix town elections presidency parliament iraq kurdistan region set nov. delay eight months regional parliament announce tuesday electoral commission say monday party fail present candidates amid turmoil region follow sept. 25 independence referendum iraq paramilitaries battle kurds push towards turkish border oil hub