ERBIL, Iraq

 The President of the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government has slammed one of the senior leaders of the terrorist PKK organization, Duran Kalkan, after he declared South Kurdistan could not live under a central political government.

Masoud Barzani's remarks on Thursday came a day after Kalkan said South Kurdistan could not unite under such a central government which houses many dialects and various societies.

Pointing to the unification of several Kurdish regions in Iraq, Kalkan said in an interview with a pro-Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, television channel: "South Kurdistan cannot live under a central dictatorship and democracy unites and revives this region." 

Kalka rejected the governance of South Kurdistan from Erbil, the capital of the northern regional government. 

Barzani retaliated in a written statement, vowing his government would not allow Kalkan to realize his aims in the Kurdish region and accused him of "betraying and inciting civil war."

"We witness that different enmities are being developed against Kurdistan and statements aimed at inciting civil war and raising cain among Kurds are being made," said Barzani, calling such statements "treason."

'Unity targeted'

Barzani also accused Kalkan of realizing enemies' plans and programs in the Kurdistan region, which he said was a "serious" threat to national security.

The president called on the Kurdish parliament and government to fulfill their responsibilities and take measures against such statements targeting his homeland.

"These statements target the unity of the homeland and national welfare," Barzani said.

He also called on the Kurdistan people and political parties to do their best to silence Duran Kalkan.   

In a separate incident in recent months, Barzani and the PKK have attempted to seize control of the Ezidi-populated Shengal district in Mosul.

Barzani criticized the PKK for attempting to declare a canton and establish their own administrative structures in regions taken from Daesh.