In Iraq, overwhelming majority of Kurds have voted in favour of independence from Iraq in the historic referendum held on Monday. The High Elections and Referendum Commission today said, nearly 93 per cent of Iraq's Kurds voted to create an independent state.<br/>'<br/>Leaders of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) billed the non-binding referendum as an exercise in self-determination and said they will not actually make a real push for statehood. Nevertheless, it is a reflection of the intent of the Kurdish population and a tool for bargaining for the Kurd leaders to enter into a dialogue with the Iraqi regime.<br/>'<br/>However, the referendum has raised concerns in Iraq and the neighboring countries that it may create instability in the region as this may stoke separatist sentiments in other neighboring countries with substantial Kurd population. US and the other western powers have also given similar warnings. United Nations Secretary General Ant'nio Guterres also voiced concern about the "potentially destabilizing effects" of the referendum in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.<br/>'<br/>Kurds are one of the largest ethnic group who occupy a similar geographical area spanning huge mountainous region across Iran , Iraq ,Syria , Turkey and part of Armenia.<br/>''''<br/>