I'm Sure This Is Nothing, But...
From the Financial Times:

Iraq's oil-rich southern provinces are considering plans to set up an autonomous region - a move that reflects their growing frustration with the central government in Baghdad and could pose a threat to the unity of the country.

Members of the municipal council of Basra, Iraq's second largest city, have been holding talks with officials from councils in two neighbouring provinces on establishing a federal region in the south, following the example of the Kurdish north.

[...]

The cabinet led by Iyad Allawi, the prime minister, includes only one representative from the three provinces.

"The south has been desperately disappointed and they see Baghdad as continuing to leave them without representation," said a western diplomat. "So they are working on ways to organise themselves to have more clout with the centre."

Walid Khadduri, editor of the Cyprus-based Middle East Economic Survey, and an expert on Iraq, said the talks on self-rule were alarming. "It could weaken the state and lead to the eventual fragmentation of the country."