France offered on Thursday to mediate between Iraq’s government and Kurdish regional authorities. President Emmanuel Macron offer came as Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi visited Paris. The trip is his first abroad since its Kurdish-held northern regions last month voted for independence in a referendum declared illegal by Baghdad. Abadi said on Thursday he could understand the Kurds’ “aspirations” - provided they were expressed in accordance with the constitution - and wanted to avoid violence, AP said.