Damascus rejects Iraqi Kurdish independence referendumBEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian government rejects the independence referendum organized by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq, Syria s foreign minister has said. Voting started on Monday in northern Iraq despite intense international and regional pressure to call the vote off.  We in Syria only recognize a united Iraq and reject any procedure that leads to the fragmentation of Iraq,  Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem was cited as saying by Syrian state news agency SANA.   This step is rejected and we do not recognize it and yesterday I informed the Iraqi foreign minister of this stance.  An assistant to the Syrian foreign minister told the pro-government Syrian newspaper al-Watan that what is happening in Iraq  is a product of American policies that aim to fragment the region s countries and create conflict between its parts.  The referendum  harms Iraq and harms our Kurdish brothers,  Ayman Soussan added in the comments published on Monday. The Shi ite-led government in Baghdad has maintained relations with Damascus throughout the country s war, even as other Arab states cut ties with President Bashar al-Assad s administration. Iraqi Shi ite militias have fought on Assad s side against Syrian rebels and Islamic State. The Syrian government, which is regaining territory with Iranian and Russian military backing, also opposes steps taken by Syrian Kurds towards autonomy in northern Syria since the start of the country s civil war in 2011. Kurdish-led regions in Syria held elections for community leaders on Friday, the first in a three-phase vote that will culminate in the election of a parliament and the establishment of a federal system of government. Syrian Kurds insist independence is not their aim and they want to remain part of a decentralized Syria. worldnews
damascus rejects iraqi kurdish independence referendumbeirut reuters the syrian government rejects independence referendum organized kurdistan regional government kg northern iraq syria foreign minister said voting started monday northern iraq despite intense international regional pressure call vote we syria recognize united iraq reject procedure leads fragmentation iraq foreign minister valid cited saying syrian state news agency sana this step rejected recognize yesterday i informed iraqi foreign minister stance an assistant syrian foreign minister told syrian newspaper happening iraq product american policies aim fragment region countries create conflict parts the referendum harms iraq harms kurdish brothers layman susan added comments published monday the shi government baghdad maintained relations damascus throughout country war even arab states cut ties president basal administration iraqi shi ite militias fought assad side syrian rebels islamic state the syrian government regaining territory iranian russian military backing also opposes steps taken syrian kurds towards autonomy northern syria since start country civil war regions syria held elections community leaders friday first vote culminated election parliament establishment federal system government syrian kurds insist independence aim want remain part decentralized syria worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Damascus rejects Iraqi Kurdish independence referendumBEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian government rejects the independence referendum organized by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq, Syria s foreign minister has said. Voting started on Monday in northern Iraq despite intense international and regional pressure to call the vote off.  We in Syria only recognize a united Iraq and reject any procedure that leads to the fragmentation of Iraq,  Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem was cited as saying by Syrian state news agency SANA.   This step is rejected and we do not recognize it and yesterday I informed the Iraqi foreign minister of this stance.  An assistant to the Syrian foreign minister told the pro-government Syrian newspaper al-Watan that what is happening in Iraq  is a product of American policies that aim to fragment the region s countries and create conflict between its parts.  The referendum  harms Iraq and harms our Kurdish brothers,  Ayman Soussan added in the comments published on Monday. The Shi ite-led government in Baghdad has maintained relations with Damascus throughout the country s war, even as other Arab states cut ties with President Bashar al-Assad s administration. Iraqi Shi ite militias have fought on Assad s side against Syrian rebels and Islamic State. The Syrian government, which is regaining territory with Iranian and Russian military backing, also opposes steps taken by Syrian Kurds towards autonomy in northern Syria since the start of the country s civil war in 2011. Kurdish-led regions in Syria held elections for community leaders on Friday, the first in a three-phase vote that will culminate in the election of a parliament and the establishment of a federal system of government. Syrian Kurds insist independence is not their aim and they want to remain part of a decentralized Syria. worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: damascus rejects iraqi kurdish independence referendumbeirut reuters the syrian government rejects independence referendum organized kurdistan regional government kg northern iraq syria foreign minister said voting started monday northern iraq despite intense international regional pressure call vote we syria recognize united iraq reject procedure leads fragmentation iraq foreign minister valid cited saying syrian state news agency sana this step rejected recognize yesterday i informed iraqi foreign minister stance an assistant syrian foreign minister told syrian newspaper happening iraq product american policies aim fragment region countries create conflict parts the referendum harms iraq harms kurdish brothers layman susan added comments published monday the shi government baghdad maintained relations damascus throughout country war even arab states cut ties president basal administration iraqi shi ite militias fought assad side syrian rebels islamic state the syrian government regaining territory iranian russian military backing also opposes steps taken syrian kurds towards autonomy northern syria since start country civil war regions syria held elections community leaders friday first vote culminated election parliament establishment federal system government syrian kurds insist independence aim want remain part decentralized syria worldnews