Iraqi Kurds back independence in referendum

ERBIL - 27 September 2017: People living in northern Iraq voted overwhelmingly in favor of independence for the Kurdistan Region in Monday's controversial referendum, BBC news reported.

The electoral commission said 92% of the 3.3 million Kurds and non-Kurds who cast their ballots supported secession.

Electoral commission officials told a news conference in Erbil on Wednesday afternoon that 2,861,000 people had voted "yes" to independence and 224,000 had voted "no". Turnout was 72.61% among those eligible to vote.