Washington, Dhul-Hijjah 25, 1438 H., September 16, 2017, SPA -- The US has reiterated its opposition to Kurdistan's independence referendum. "The United States has repeatedly emphasized to the leaders of the Kurdistan Regional Government that the referendum is distracting from efforts to defeat ISIS and stabilize the liberated areas," a White House statement says. The White House is concerned that holding the referendum in disputed areas is "provocative and destabilizing" and wants the Kurdistan regional government to call it off. The US also wants the Kurds to enter into a "serious and sustained dialogue with Baghdad," which Washington "has repeatedly indicated it is prepared to facilitate," the statement says. --SPA 03:43 LOCAL TIME 00:43 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w488390