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ERBIL, Iraq, Sept. 15-- The parliament of the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan on Friday approved the independence referendum to be held on Sept. 25. All the 65 lawmakers attending the session of the 111-seat regional parliament voted in favor of holding the referendum on the independence of the Kurdish region and the disputed areas. The parliament also decided to invite relevant parties, including Kurdistan's Independent High Elections and Referendum Commission, to conduct the referendum. According to Tariq Jowahar, parliament media advisor, the session was chaired by the deputy speaker, as Speaker Yousif Mohammed Sadiq did not attend the session since his Gorran Movement is boycotting the session along with the Kurdistan Islamic Group. Kaka Bashar, a Kurdish lawmaker from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), said he regretted that some of the lawmakers boycotted the parliament session, particularly the Gorran Movement, and hoped they will take part in the coming session. Bahar Mahmoud, head of Gorran's parliamentary bloc, said the parliamentary session is "illegal." "The session is illegal and a violation to the internal parliament law, as the session must be approved by the parliament's presidency which comprises the speaker and his deputy, in addition to the secretary of the parliament," she told Xinhua. Mahmoud also revealed that Sadiq was prevented from entering the regional capital city of Erbil. | 
