Head of Iraq’s Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), Massoud Barzani, criticized Iraq’s Prime Minister, Nouri Al-Maliki, on Thursday over disputes on crude oil exports and federal budget allocations.

Head of Iraq's Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), Massoud Barzani, criticized Iraq's Prime Minister, Nouri Al-Maliki, on Thursday over disputes on crude oil exports and federal budget allocations.

"We do not want to threaten anyone, but if Iraqi government keeps on acting as they do, they will receive a response that they never expect," said Barzani, during a ceremony for victims of the 1993 Enfal operation, where former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's forces executed thousands of Kurds.

Iraq's federal government blocked the sale of Kurdish crude oil, which is transferred to Turkey via pipelines, claiming that independent sale of Iraqi oil is against Iraq's constitution. Tensions increased after federal government cut the funding of civil servants working for the Kurdish regional government from the federal budget.

"A prime minister and commander-in-chief must act responsibly and honestly," said Barzani, adding that "democracy, federalism and respect for diversity is not going forward but back, there is no reason to live together in Iraq anymore."

Barzani stressed that his concerns are not simply about oil or budgets but about the protection of the Kurdish identity.

"We won't negotiate [on funding] with Baghdad anymore", said Barzani. "Kurdish people will not accept to be governed by oppression and tyranny. We want Iraq to be governed collectively."