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Iraqi Kurdistan Referendum: Votes Being Counted

Source: USAID

Iraqi Kurds went to the polls on Monday to take part in a historic non-binding referendum to vote on whether to support independence from Baghdad.

Votes are still being counted amid raised regional tensions and fears of instability.

Initial results from the poll are expected on Tuesday, with the official results to be announced later in the week.

A big victory for pro-independence Kurds is expected – with authorities putting turnout at over 70%.

Millions were expected to take part across the three Kurdish autonomous regions, as well as residents in disputed territories that are claimed by both Baghdad and the Kurds.

Baghdad has come out strongly against the referendum, demanding on Sunday that all airports and border crossings in the Kurdish region be handed back to federal government control.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said, "the referendum is unconstitutional."

He said: “It threatens Iraq, peaceful coexistence among Iraqis and is a danger to the region.

"We will take measures to safeguard the nation's unity and protect all Iraqis.”

On Sunday, the Kurdish region's president, Masoud Barzani, described the path to independence as “risky".

He said:

"We are ready to pay any price for our independence.”

Turkey does not recognise the referendum, saying on Monday that its results would be "null and void".

Thousands of Iranian Kurds poured into the streets of Iran overnight in support of the Iraqi Kurds' referendum.

It is evidence that the vote's impact extends beyond Iraq's borders to its neighbouring countries.

UN secretary general Antonio Guterres has warned of the "potentially destabilising" results of going ahead with the referendum.

In a statement, Mr Guterres said:

"All outstanding issues between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government should be resolved through structured dialogue and constructive compromise.”