Referendum on independence has stirred fears of instability across the region as the war against Daesh winds down
ERBIL, Iraq (Reuters) — Voting started on Monday in an independence referendum organised by the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq, despite regional and international fears that it would stoke instability and violence across the Middle East.
Polling stations opened their doors at 8:00 am (0500 GMT, 9am in Dubai) and should close at 6:00 pm.
The vote, expected to deliver a comfortable “yes” for independence, is not binding and is meant to give Massoud Barzani’s KRG a mandate to negotiate secession of the oil-producing region with Baghdad and the neighbouring states.
“We have been waiting 100 years for this day,” said Rizgar, standing in a queue of men waiting to cast a ballot in a school in Erbil, the KRG capital.
“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.”
The referendum on support for independence has stirred fears of instability across the region as the war against Daesh winds down.
The US and the United Nations have condemned the referendum.
Turkey, which is battling its own Kurdish insurgency, has threatened to use military force to prevent the emergence of an independent Kurdish state, and Baghdad has warned it will respond militarily to any violence resulting from the vote.
