The Baghdad parliament's decision earlier this week to oppose the referendum drew condemnation from deputies in Erbil.

Despite amendments from the Government last night the Opposition is still set to oppose the referendum on judicial conduct.

Moscow did not oppose the referendum, which the United Sates and the European Union urged the KRG to postpone.

Russia was the only major world power that did not oppose the referendum, saying it understood Kurdish aspirations for independence.

The Labour leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, said his party would oppose the referendum on judicial conduct unless the Government amended its proposals.

Iraq's neighbors - Turkey, Iran and Syria - also oppose the referendum, fearing it could fan separatism among their own ethnic Kurdish populations.

The opposition has had little visible leadership since the coup, making it hard to oppose the referendum, said red shirt supporters in Khon Kaen.

It was one of several retaliatory measures taken by Baghdad, which vehemently opposed the referendum.

The Workers' Party said yesterday the Minister for Justice had dismissed people who opposed the referendum as scaremongers.

The electricians' and engineering union, the TEEU, has said it will be opposing the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

The electricians' and engineering union, the TEEU, has said that it will be opposing the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

Independent TD Catherine Murphy praised the role the Labour party played in 1983 when it opposed the referendum, going against the popular view.

The Catholic Church opposes the referendum and has said that allowing same-sex marriage would be a "grave injustice" and a disservice to society.