BAGHDAD 

Iraq’s Civil Aviation Authority on Wednesday requested foreign airlines suspend flights to the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) area by Friday.

The move follows Monday’s illegitimate referendum on independence in KRG-controlled areas across northern Iraq.

Along with Iraq’s central government, Turkey, the U.S., Iran and the UN spoke out against the illegitimate referendum, saying it would distract from the ongoing fight against Daesh and further destabilize the region.

Reporting by Haydar Hadi:Writing by Fatih Hafiz Mehmet