High Elections and Referendum Commission

Initial results have shown that 92% of Kurdistan citizens support independence from Iraq, the autonomous region’s electoral commission said Wednesday as regional pressures mount from neighbors opposed to the secession plans. The Independent High Elections and Referendum Commission (IHERC)  said ‘Yes’ vote scored 92.73 percent, compared to only 7.27  of ‘No’ vote. The commission previously stated that the turnout for Monday’s referendum was 72.16 percent. The results announced come amid opposition from the Arab-led Iraqi government in Baghdad, the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and regional powers Iran and Turkey who view the move as untimely due to Iraq’s unfinished campaign to expel Islamic State militants.