Iraqi Kurdish Parliament has voted to back an independence referendum in the face of opposition from across the globe. The Kurdistan Regional Government, sitting for the first time in two years, backed the 25 September vote yesterday. Iraq's central government rejected the referendum as unconstitutional on Tuesday.<br/><br/>Iran, Turkey and the US also object to the vote, fearing further instability. The White House issued a statement hours after the vote, asking the Kurdistan Regional Government to call off the referendum and enter into serious and sustained dialogue with Baghdad. <br/><br/>The statement warned the independence vote could distract from efforts to defeat the Islamic State terror group (IS). But there was a feeling of jubilation amongst those who back the referendum. Of the 111 MPs who sit in the regional parliament, 65 voted to go ahead with the plan.