"The status quo, with substantial Kurdish autonomy, will to a certain degree remain in place in the transitional period," said an administration official.

One such prompted the "granting" of Kurdish autonomy on March 10, 1970.

In March 1970, Iraq announced a peace plan providing for Kurdish autonomy.

Barzani stated that negotiations were continuing with the government for Kurdish autonomy.

But it is the Shiites, having finally achieved here after decades of struggle, who are likely to offer the strongest opposition to Kurdish autonomy.

But the most vexing issue is Kurdish autonomy.

A peace plan was announced in March 1970 and provided for broader Kurdish autonomy.

How can Kurdish autonomy be accepted without inviting separatism from the Shiites, who make up 60 percent of the country?

The talks over Kurdish autonomy have been the subject of intense international attention since they began in April.

For Ankara, this would constitute excessive Kurdish autonomy, its red line in Iraq.