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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| Iraqi Kurdistan in historic independence vote | Iraqi Kurdistan in historic independence vote |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| People are voting in a landmark referendum on independence for the Kurdistan Region of Iraq - a move which has been criticised by foreign powers. | People are voting in a landmark referendum on independence for the Kurdistan Region of Iraq - a move which has been criticised by foreign powers. |
| Polls are open in the three northern provinces that make up the region, as well as disputed areas claimed by the Kurds and the government in Baghdad. | Polls are open in the three northern provinces that make up the region, as well as disputed areas claimed by the Kurds and the government in Baghdad. |
| Iraq's prime minister has denounced the referendum as "unconstitutional". | Iraq's prime minister has denounced the referendum as "unconstitutional". |
| Kurdish leaders say an expected "yes" vote will give them a mandate to start negotiations on secession. | Kurdish leaders say an expected "yes" vote will give them a mandate to start negotiations on secession. |
| Kurds are the fourth-largest ethnic group in the Middle East but they have never obtained a permanent nation state. | |
| In Iraq, where they make up an estimated 15% to 20% of the population of 37 million, Kurds faced decades of repression before acquiring autonomy in 1991. | In Iraq, where they make up an estimated 15% to 20% of the population of 37 million, Kurds faced decades of repression before acquiring autonomy in 1991. |
| Voting in Monday's referendum is open to some 5.2 million Kurds and non-Kurds aged 18 or over who are registered as resident in Kurdish-controlled areas of northern Iraq. Polling stations are expected to close at 18:00 (15:00 GMT). | Voting in Monday's referendum is open to some 5.2 million Kurds and non-Kurds aged 18 or over who are registered as resident in Kurdish-controlled areas of northern Iraq. Polling stations are expected to close at 18:00 (15:00 GMT). |
| "We have been waiting 100 years for this day," one man queuing to vote at a school in the Kurdistan Region's capital, Irbil, told Reuters news agency. | "We have been waiting 100 years for this day," one man queuing to vote at a school in the Kurdistan Region's capital, Irbil, told Reuters news agency. |
| "We want to have a state, with God's help. Today is a celebration for all Kurds. God willing, we will say yes, yes to dear Kurdistan." | "We want to have a state, with God's help. Today is a celebration for all Kurds. God willing, we will say yes, yes to dear Kurdistan." |
| 'History in the making' | 'History in the making' |
| By Orla Guerin, BBC News, Irbil | By Orla Guerin, BBC News, Irbil |
| At polling stations here there is a sense of history in the making. Some began queuing last night. The Kurds say the referendum is an example of democracy in action. Instead of opposing them, they believe that Western powers should be giving them strong support. | At polling stations here there is a sense of history in the making. Some began queuing last night. The Kurds say the referendum is an example of democracy in action. Instead of opposing them, they believe that Western powers should be giving them strong support. |
| A man in his 60s, in traditional dress, told us people had been counting the months, days and minutes until they could cast their ballots. "It is the proudest moment of my life," he said. | A man in his 60s, in traditional dress, told us people had been counting the months, days and minutes until they could cast their ballots. "It is the proudest moment of my life," he said. |
| Some came to vote carrying pictures of loved ones killed battling so-called Islamic State (IS). | |
| "My husband's blood wasn't shed for nothing" said one woman, adding that her family had not slept for days, worrying that the referendum would be cancelled. | "My husband's blood wasn't shed for nothing" said one woman, adding that her family had not slept for days, worrying that the referendum would be cancelled. |
| Whatever comes next this vote could reshape the Middle East. That's just what neighbouring states - with their own Kurdish minorities - fear. | |
| Not all Kurds are expected to vote "yes", though. | Not all Kurds are expected to vote "yes", though. |
| The Change Movement (Gorran) and Kurdistan Islamic Group parties said they supported independence but objected to the timing and organisation of the referendum, while businessman Shaswar Abdulwahid Qadir launched a "No4Now" campaign because of the economic and political risks of secession. | The Change Movement (Gorran) and Kurdistan Islamic Group parties said they supported independence but objected to the timing and organisation of the referendum, while businessman Shaswar Abdulwahid Qadir launched a "No4Now" campaign because of the economic and political risks of secession. |
| And in the disputed city of Kirkuk, the local ethnic Arab and Turkmen communities have called for a boycott. | And in the disputed city of Kirkuk, the local ethnic Arab and Turkmen communities have called for a boycott. |
| Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi warned on Sunday that the referendum "threatens Iraq, peaceful co-existence among Iraqis, and is a danger to the region". | Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi warned on Sunday that the referendum "threatens Iraq, peaceful co-existence among Iraqis, and is a danger to the region". |
| "We will take measures to safeguard the nation's unity and protect all Iraqis." | "We will take measures to safeguard the nation's unity and protect all Iraqis." |
| The central government has demanded that all international airports and border crossings be returned to its control, and asked all countries to "deal only with it on matters of oil and borders". | The central government has demanded that all international airports and border crossings be returned to its control, and asked all countries to "deal only with it on matters of oil and borders". |
| Neighbouring Turkey and Iran also vehemently object to the referendum, fearing it will stoke separatist feeling among their own Kurdish minorities. | Neighbouring Turkey and Iran also vehemently object to the referendum, fearing it will stoke separatist feeling among their own Kurdish minorities. |
| Ankara said it would consider the result of the referendum "null and void" and intended to form closer ties with Iraq's central government. | Ankara said it would consider the result of the referendum "null and void" and intended to form closer ties with Iraq's central government. |
| Tehran called the vote "illegal and illegitimate", having banned all flights to and from the Kurdistan Region a day earlier. Iran denied closing its land border, AFP news agency reports. | |
| Celebratory mood | Celebratory mood |
| By Sally Nabil, BBC News, Kirkuk | By Sally Nabil, BBC News, Kirkuk |
| "We want to be free. This is a dream coming true," one woman says as she takes part in a referendum that has divided this disputed city. | "We want to be free. This is a dream coming true," one woman says as she takes part in a referendum that has divided this disputed city. |
| Kirkuk's population is largely a mix of Arabs, Turkmen and Kurds, but only the Kurds are casting their ballots because other ethnic groups are boycotting it. | Kirkuk's population is largely a mix of Arabs, Turkmen and Kurds, but only the Kurds are casting their ballots because other ethnic groups are boycotting it. |
| Security is quite heavy outside the polling stations as a result of the clashes seen in the city in recent days, but inside people seem relaxed and proud. | Security is quite heavy outside the polling stations as a result of the clashes seen in the city in recent days, but inside people seem relaxed and proud. |
| Many are holding Kurdish flags, sweets are being handed out to celebrate, and some children are dressed in traditional Kurdish costumes. | Many are holding Kurdish flags, sweets are being handed out to celebrate, and some children are dressed in traditional Kurdish costumes. |
| "When I go to Baghdad I feel like a second class citizen, I don't feel like I belong there," another voter tells me. "Now it is time for us to have our own state." | "When I go to Baghdad I feel like a second class citizen, I don't feel like I belong there," another voter tells me. "Now it is time for us to have our own state." |
| The UN Security Council warned on Thursday that the vote could hamper the fight against IS in Iraq, in which Kurdish forces have played a critical role, and efforts to ensure the return of 3 million displaced Iraqis. | The UN Security Council warned on Thursday that the vote could hamper the fight against IS in Iraq, in which Kurdish forces have played a critical role, and efforts to ensure the return of 3 million displaced Iraqis. |
| But Kurdistan Regional President Massoud Barzani accused the international community of having double standards. | But Kurdistan Regional President Massoud Barzani accused the international community of having double standards. |
| "Asking our people to vote in a peaceful way is not a crime," he said on Sunday. "If democracy is bad for us, why isn't it bad for everyone else?" | "Asking our people to vote in a peaceful way is not a crime," he said on Sunday. "If democracy is bad for us, why isn't it bad for everyone else?" |
| Mr Barzani said the referendum would not draw borders, and that afterwards there could be talks with Baghdad for a year or two. But he stressed that the "failed partnership" with the "theocratic, sectarian state" of Iraq was over. | Mr Barzani said the referendum would not draw borders, and that afterwards there could be talks with Baghdad for a year or two. But he stressed that the "failed partnership" with the "theocratic, sectarian state" of Iraq was over. |