Iraqi Kurds in independence vote despite Baghdad, neighbors’ warnings

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Polling stations were scattered across the three northern provinces of autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan – Erbil, Sulaimaniyah and Dohuk – as well as in disputed bordering zones such as the oil-rich province of Kirkuk.

A total of 12,072 polling stations were open for more than 5.3 million registered voters.

In disputed Kirkuk, mosque loudspeakers blared a prayer normally reserved for religious celebrations, but participation in the vote was limited.

The non-arab ethnic group number between 25 and 35 million people spread across Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-abadi on Sunday pledged to take all the “necessary measures” to protect the country’s unity as his government urged all countries to deal only with it on oil transactions.

Abadi said the Kurds’ unilateral decision to stage a referendum affected both Iraqi and regional security, and was “unconstitutional and against civil peace.”

Hours later, the Iraqi government called on all countries “to deal only with it on matters of oil and borders”.

The Iraqi Kurds export an average 600,000 barrels per day (bpd) through a pipeline running through Turkey to Ceyhan on the Mediterranean.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday threatened to halt these oil exports, angrily denouncing an “illegitimate” referendum.

He also said Turkey’s Habur border crossing with Iraqi Kurdistan would be closed.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim earlier said sanctions could also be “with regard to airspace.”

Iran backs Iraq sovereignty

Tehran closed its border with Iraqi Kurdistan after saying on Sunday it had blocked all flights to and from the region at Baghdad’s request.

President Hassan Rouhani had called Abadi late Sunday to reiterate his support.

Rouhani said that Iran is against any move that would undermine Iraq’s territorial integrity and national unity.

He told the Iraqi premier, “In our view, Iraq’s Constitution should be respected by all, and any action that is in contravention of the Constitution shall be deemed illegal. All should know that their legitimacy lasts as long as they act within the framework of the Iraqi Constitution.”

“In this important issue concerning Iraq, we will stand by our neighbor and the Iraqi government,” Iran’s president reiterated.

Rouhani also pointed to an earlier conversation he had with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and said Ankara and Tehran shared a common stance in their support for Baghdad on the issue.

Rouhani, however, expressed certitude that the Iraqi government and people would overcome this predicament, as they did in other cases before, by virtue of prudence and wisdom.

Abadi warned that Barzani would direct the course of events toward a new confrontation.