Iraq to probe delay on Kirkuk vote

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s parliament Saturday ordered an inquiry into the delay of a referendum over whether the oil-rich city of Kirkuk will join the northern Kurdish semiautonomous region.

The Iraqi Constitution requires that a referendum on the future status of the city be held by year’s end to determine whether it will remain under Baghdad’s control, become part of Iraqi Kurdistan or gain autonomy from both.

The head of the Kirkuk City Council accused the central government of stalling, saying Baghdad’s Arab-dominated authority stood to gain from the delay.