IRAQ’S Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi urged calm yesterday in self-ruled Kurdistan after rioting followed regional president Masoud Barzani's resignation on Sunday.

Mr Abadi said that central government was closely monitoring “attempts to create chaos and disorder” in the cities of Irbil and Dahuk.

Mr Barzani, who held on to the presidency when his term of office expired in 2015, told the regional parliament that he would not seek re-election after last month's divisive Kurdish independence referendum, which he spearheaded, sparked a crisis with Baghdad and neighbouring countries.