Voting ends in controversial poll in northern Iraq

ERBIL, Iraq

Voting ended in controversial referendum on the secession of northern Iraq’s Kurdish region on Monday evening.

The polls were due to be closed at 6 p.m. local time (3 GMT), but the Kurdish Regional Government’s Election Commission extended the operation by another hour to allow voters cast their votes, with the exception of Kirkuk province.

The commission said the turnout stood at 76 percent.

Local authorities have urged the residents not to carry out aerial firing while celebrating the success of the referendum.

A shooting incident took place in which a civilian was killed in disputed district center of Tuz Khurmatu in Saladin province.

Monday's non-binding referendum took place in northern Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG)-held areas, including areas disputed between Erbil and Baghdad.

The referendum, which was boycotted by Turkmens and Arabs, was held in Erbil, Dohuk and Sulaymaniyah provinces, the contested province of Kirkuk, Tuz Khurmatu district in the Saladin province and Khanaqin district in Diyala province.

Turkey, the U.S., Iran and the UN warned that the vote would distract from operations against Daesh and lead to greater instability in the region.

Earlier Monday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that results of the referendum are "null and void".

Iraq’s central government has threatened to intervene militarily if the vote leads to violence.

The KRG’s leader, Masoud Barzani, has said a Yes win would not result in an automatic declaration of independence but would simply lead to further negotiations with Baghdad.

Reporting by Ali Sheikho; Writing by Ali Abo Rezeg;