Iraq's Kurds say 92% voted in favour of independence
28 Sept 2017 8:22 PM IST
Irbil: The Kurdish referendum on independence from Iraq was approved by more than 92 percent of voters, officials said on Thursday, as Iraq's prime minister vowed to keep his country united without resorting to the use of force.
Even with the strong support, the non-binding vote is unlikely to lead to formal independence, but it has escalated long-running tensions with Baghdad, which has moved to block flights in and out of the Kurds' autonomous region. Iraq and its neighbours, along with virtually the entire international community, are opposed to any redrawing of the map.
Hendrin Mohammed, the head of the Kurdish region's election commission, announced the official results at a press conference, saying the referendum passed with 92.73 percent support and turnout of more than 72 percent.
The vote was held across the autonomous Kurdish region's three provinces as well as in some disputed territories controlled by Kurdish forces but claimed by Baghdad.
Iraq's Arab-dominated parliament has approved a 13-point resolution that gives al-Abadi the mandate to deploy troops in the disputed territories, including the oil-rich city of Kirkuk, but Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said today he doesn't want a "fight between the Iraqi citizens."
At a meeting with lawmakers, he instead vowed to "enforce the rule of the federal authority in the Kurdish region with the power of the constitution." On Thursday, Parliament modified the resolution to demand that Baghdad refrain from taking part in any dialogue with the Kurds until the results of Monday's vote are cancelled. It also called on the government to bring those behind the vote, including Kurdish regional president Masoud Barzani, to justice.
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