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| Iraqi Kurdistan referendum: High turnout in independence vote | Iraqi Kurdistan referendum: High turnout in independence vote |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Large numbers of people have taken part in a landmark vote on independence for Iraq's Kurdistan region, amid growing opposition both at home and abroad. | Large numbers of people have taken part in a landmark vote on independence for Iraq's Kurdistan region, amid growing opposition both at home and abroad. |
| Votes are still being counted, with a big victory for "yes" expected. | |
| Kurds say it will give them a mandate to negotiate secession, but Iraq's PM denounced it as "unconstitutional". | Kurds say it will give them a mandate to negotiate secession, but Iraq's PM denounced it as "unconstitutional". |
| Neighbours Turkey and Iran, fearing separatist unrest in their own Kurdish minorities, threatened to close borders and impose sanctions on oil exports. | Neighbours Turkey and Iran, fearing separatist unrest in their own Kurdish minorities, threatened to close borders and impose sanctions on oil exports. |
| The referendum passed off peacefully across the three provinces that make up the region, and turnout was estimated at about 72%, according to the electoral commission. | The referendum passed off peacefully across the three provinces that make up the region, and turnout was estimated at about 72%, according to the electoral commission. |
| There were scenes of celebration as the polls closed in the regional capital, Irbil, and in the disputed city of Kirkuk, where a curfew was imposed on Monday night amid fears of unrest. | There were scenes of celebration as the polls closed in the regional capital, Irbil, and in the disputed city of Kirkuk, where a curfew was imposed on Monday night amid fears of unrest. |
| "It's a day of celebration today. That's why I've put on our traditional outfit, which I bought for the occasion," 33-year-old Diyar Abubakr told the AFP news agency. | "It's a day of celebration today. That's why I've put on our traditional outfit, which I bought for the occasion," 33-year-old Diyar Abubakr told the AFP news agency. |
| There was some opposition to the vote among non-Kurdish populations in disputed areas between the Kurdish and Iraqi governments. In Kirkuk, the local ethnic Arab and Turkmen communities had called for a boycott | There was some opposition to the vote among non-Kurdish populations in disputed areas between the Kurdish and Iraqi governments. In Kirkuk, the local ethnic Arab and Turkmen communities had called for a boycott |
| The vote is being closely watched not only in Iraq but elsewhere in the region because its implications could reshape the Middle East, the BBC's Orla Guerin in Irbil reports. | The vote is being closely watched not only in Iraq but elsewhere in the region because its implications could reshape the Middle East, the BBC's Orla Guerin in Irbil reports. |
| Turkey and Iran fear the impact this could have on their own Kurdish communities, our correspondent adds. | Turkey and Iran fear the impact this could have on their own Kurdish communities, our correspondent adds. |
| In Istanbul, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the vote as "unacceptable" and threatened to close the Iraqi Kurds' vital oil export pipeline. | In Istanbul, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the vote as "unacceptable" and threatened to close the Iraqi Kurds' vital oil export pipeline. |
| "We have the tap. The moment we close the tap, then it's done," he was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying. | "We have the tap. The moment we close the tap, then it's done," he was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying. |
| He also said his country could close completely the sole border crossing with the region. Traffic there, he said, was currently only being allowed to cross from the Turkish side. | He also said his country could close completely the sole border crossing with the region. Traffic there, he said, was currently only being allowed to cross from the Turkish side. |
| Late on Monday, Iraqi and Turkish officials announced they would hold joint military drills in Turkey in an area bordering the Kurdish region of Iraq. | Late on Monday, Iraqi and Turkish officials announced they would hold joint military drills in Turkey in an area bordering the Kurdish region of Iraq. |
| Iran called the vote "illegal", having banned all flights to and from the Kurdish region a day earlier. | Iran called the vote "illegal", having banned all flights to and from the Kurdish region a day earlier. |
| UN Secretary General António Guterres expressed concern about the "potentially destabilising effects" of the vote. | UN Secretary General António Guterres expressed concern about the "potentially destabilising effects" of the vote. |
| The referendum | The referendum |
| What is at stake? | What is at stake? |
| Iraqi Kurdistan profile | Iraqi Kurdistan profile |
| 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", and vowed to "take measures to safeguard the nation's unity and protect all Iraqis". | 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", and vowed to "take measures to safeguard the nation's unity and protect all Iraqis". |
| But Kurdistan Regional President Massoud Barzani has accused the international community of having double standards. | But Kurdistan Regional President Massoud Barzani has 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. |