These are testing times for Iraqi Kurdistan's ruling party, the KDP, and the Barzani clan that runs it. Massoud Barzani, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) president for the past decade, is seeking to extend his term, which ends in August, arguing that a leadership change during wartime would be folly. An extension is probably achievable but at a cost, sources say. Tensions will likely impact oil development in the region, which is already stumbling — on top of which Erbil this week raised the stakes in its budget payment dispute with Baghdad by ceasing to hand over crude pumped through the KRG's pipeline to Turkey to Iraqi stale marketer Somo for export from Ceyhan, an industry source says.
展开▼
