kirkuk iraq iraq oil-producing region kirkuk vote referendum kurdish independence sept. 25 provisional council decide tuesday move could increase tension arab turkmen residents ethnically mix region claim central government baghdad autonomous kurdistan regional government krg northern iraq vote definitely happen sept. 25 kirkuk governor najmuddin kareem tell reuters majority provincial council vote favor take part 24 41 council members attend tuesday vote 23 vote favor participate referendum one abstain remain council members arabs turkmen boycott vote instead issue statements denounce vote unconstitutional krg say local councils kirkuk three dispute regions iraq decide whether join vote independence kurdish region vote dispute regions would amount decide whether join krg remain jurisdiction shi ite arab-led government baghdad baghdad say referendum unconstitutional speak reporters follow meet council minister iraqi prime minister hayder al-abadi denounce tuesday decision wrong issue handle like add sunni mp mohammed al-karbouli tell reuters tuesday decision would help trigger ethnic fight region would also extend life islamic state country stark violation constitution determine move confiscate right arab turkmen kirkuk government intervene stop violation al-karbouli say unite state western nations fear vote could lead conflict baghdad neighbor turkey iran host sizeable kurdish populations divert attention fight islamic state militants iraq syria senior kurdish official say iraq kurds might consider postpone referendum return financial political concessions central government ask postponement include baghdad u.s. europe whoever give us time kareem say propose date kurdish peshmerga fighters seize control kirkuk 2014 iraqi army flee islamic state offensive across northern western iraq prevent region oil field fall hand militants kurds seek independent state since least end world war one colonial power divide middle east leave kurdish-populated territory split modern-day turkey iran iraq syria iraq 's kirkuk province vote kurdish independence referendum