ARBIL: Iraqi Kurdish leader Massud Barzani called Saturday for the right to self-determination of the Kurdish region of northern Iraq, which could lead to a breakup of the country. Speaking at a congress of his Kurdistan Democratic Party, Barzani said “the issue of self-determination,” which was considered “a right,” would be presented to those attending the conference “to be studied and discussed.” The remarks mark the first time Barzani has officially presented the issue to the KDP's congress, which opened Saturday. His comments were made to an audience that included Iraq's Prime Minister-designate Nuri Al-Maliki, Parliament Speaker Osama Al-Nujaifi and Iyad Allawi, whose Iraqiya bloc won the most seats in March elections. Barzani's KDP is a key member of Maliki's governing coalition, and the Kurdish leader played a major role in bringing Iraq's divided political factions together to agree a power
