Three people were killed and 21 wounded by stray bullets as Kurds shot into the air to celebrate the signing of a new law that enshrines their right to autonomy.
Several thousand Kurds marched through the city of Kirkuk yesterday after Iraq's transitional constitution was signed, celebrating their new status.
The US-appointed Governing Council signed the document after two delays, a crucial step under a plan by occupying powers to hand Iraqis sovereignty on June 30th.
Iraqi Kurds suffered years of ill-treatment under Saddam Hussein, who used chemical weapons against them. After the 1991 Gulf War they wrested three northern provinces from Baghdad and have ruled them autonomously since.