The electoral commission said 92% of the 3.3 million Kurds and non-Kurds who cast their ballots supported secession.
The announcement came despite a last-minute appeal for the result to be "cancelled" from Iraq's prime minister. http://www.fow24news.com/2017/09/iraqi-kurds-back-independence.html
Haider al-Abadi urged Kurds to instead engage in dialogue with Baghdad "in the framework of the constitution".
Kurdish leaders say the "Yes" vote will give them a mandate to start negotiations on secession with the central government in Baghdad and neighbouring countries.
Iraq's parliament meanwhile asked the prime minister to deploy troops to the oil-rich region of Kirkuk and other disputed areas held by Kurdish forces.
Kurdish Peshmerga fighters took control of Kirkuk, a multi-ethnic region claimed by the Kurds and Arab-led central government, when jihadist militants from so-called Islamic State swept across northern Iraq in 2014 and the Iraqi army collapsed.
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