Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Voters in the southwestern Pacific region of Bougainville have overwhelmingly approved a referendum seeking full independence from Papua New Guinea, officials announced Wednesday.
Bougainville Referendum Commission Chair Bertie Ahern, reading the results in Buka, said 97 percent voted in favor of autonomy from Papua New Guinea -- nearly 177,000 of about 181,000 ballots -- over a two-week period.