IRAQI troops have been allowed into Turkey and Iran in order to secure control of Iraqi Kurdistan’s international borders following its controversial independence referendum.

Kurdish official Abdul-Wahab Barzani, speaking from the border with Turkey, said the soldiers had not contacted the region’s border guards before setting up customs points around 40 yards into Turkish territory. He did not expect any immediate interference with cross-border traffic.

The move follows a ban on international flights to the territory imposed on Friday and indicates the extent of regional opposition to the vote.