ANKARA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan late Tuesday warned of sanctions against the independence referendum to be held by the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) next week, local media reported Wednesday.
"We will make a final decision after cabinet and the National Security Council meeting," Erdogan told reporters in New York after his address at the UN General Assembly, quoted by state-run Anadolu Agency.
"The cabinet will undoubtedly evaluate this situation and assess possible sanctions, which will not be ordinary," he said.
Bekir Bozdag, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister, said in the Central Anatolian province of Yozgat on Tuesday that Turkey would not allow fait accompli in northern Iraq.
"If they go ahead to hold the referendum despite all these warnings, then it will surely be responded to," He warned.
Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli said on Tuesday in Ankara that the non-binding independence referendum would ignite a new war in the region.
"All of our security forces are on duty. We are following the recent developments very closely," Canikli said.
"If a decision is to be made, if a step needs to be taken, Turkey would resolutely follow through," he added.
