Kurds in Iraq have voted overwhelmingly in favour of independence, with Monday's referendum results showing 92.73% voted for secession.
The referendum saw a large vote turnout at 72.61 percent.
As the final results came through Kurds poured onto the streets of Erbil to celebrate.
The result was however condemned by Iraq's prime minister, Haider al-Abadi.
"The referendum must be annulled and dialogue initiated in the framework of the constitution. We will never hold talks based on the results of the referendum," Mr Abadi was quoted by AFP as saying.
"We will impose Iraqi law in the entire region of Kurdistan under the constitution."