Masoud Barzani

UN concerned at reports of Kurds being forcibly displaced as Iraqi army advances

US urges Baghdad government to stop offensive

Government advances in northern Iraq continue as Kurdish peshmerga withdraw

Attack on northern city amid soaring tensions following independence referendum

Leader of one of country’s main Kurdish factions was first non-Arab Iraqi president

Last week’s referendum is better understood as an expression of instability and change in a Middle East beset with conflicts between regional powers

Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani wades into debate after voters backed breakaway in referendum

Voters queue at polling stations for controversial ballot widely condemned in region

Baghdad issues threats and international powers condemn the ballot ahead of the vote

Iraqi PM previously said he respects Kurdish right to vote but does not think timing is apt

Iraqi forces report capture of another district as fight against Isis pushes towards city centre

Coalition boost after offensive backed by air strikes leads to fall of strategic Iraqi town

IS video purports to show peshmerga beheadings, threats to kill ‘dozens’ more

The Obama administration weakened its hand by delaying its response in Iraq