Turkey says Iraqi Kurdish plan for independence vote a ``terrible mistake``

Ankara: Turkey on Friday called a plan by Iraqi Kurds to hold a referendum on independence a "terrible mistake", saying that Iraq`s territorial integrity and political unity was a fundamental principle for Ankara.

"We think this will represent a terrible mistake," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Iraq`s autonomous Kurdish region on Wednesday said it would hold a referendum on independence, a move unlikely to be welcome by the central government in Baghdad.