Kurdistan votes to split from Iraq, sparking fears of conflict

KURDISTAN has voted overwhelmingly to secede from Iraq, in a historic vote which brings it one step closer to a century-old dream of statehood but risks fuelling a new regional conflict.

The referendum passed with 92.73 per cent support and a turnout of more than 72 per cent of the 3.3million registered to vote.

Hendrin Mohammed, the head of the Kurdish region’s election commission, declared that out of the 3million ballots, 2.9 million were for independence and 224,464 were against.

The vote was held across the autonomous Kurdish region’s three provinces as well as in some disputed territories claimed by Baghdad, including the oilrich city of Kirkuk.

Masoud Barzani, the Kurdistan president who called the referendum, believes the “yes” vote will give them a mandate to start negotiations on secession with the central government in Baghdad.

But Iraq has said it will not recognise the vote and that it was not willing to negotiate.

It stepped up efforts to isolate the region, demanding that foreign governments close their diplomatic missions in the Kurdish capital, Erbil, and threatening to close its air space. In response, international airlines began cancelling flights to the region.

“We will impose the rule of Iraq in all of the areas of the KRG [Kurdistan Regional Government], with the strength of the constitution,” Haider alabadi, Iraq’s prime minister, said.