Putin heads to Turkey to discuss Kurdish referendum

Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin have spoken over the Kurdish referendum in Iraq, they have stressed Iraq's importance and Syria's territorial integrity.

Erdogan's office has said Putin will visit Ankara on Thursday to discuss developments in the region, including the Kurdish referendum.

Turkey, with a large Kurdish population, is fighting rebels on their territory, rejecting any movement towards forming the divided Kurdish state.

Erdogan has threatened Kurds in Iraq with military attacks and sanctions, including cutting oil exports to the Kurdish region of Iraq.