The United States called Friday for Iraqi federal forces to limit their "movements" in areas claimed by both them and the country's Kurds so as to avoid more violence.

"In order to avoid any misunderstandings or further clashes, we urge the central government to calm the situation by limiting federal force' movements in disputed areas to only those coordinated with the Kurdistan Regional Government," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.

source: AFP