Iraqi government forces have taken control of the two largest oilfields near the disputed city of Kirkuk after Kurdish forces left the area.

Iraqi troops began a takeover of Kirkuk on Monday.

The actions come three weeks after a Kurdish referendum on independence, which was declared illegitimate by the central Iraqi government.

Voters in the Kurdish autonomous region and Kurdish-held areas overwhelmingly backed secession.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has denounced the vote as unconstitutional.

Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani is expected to make a statement later on Tuesday, addressing divisions between Kurdish fighters and urging them to avoid civil war, according to the Irbil-based Rudaw news site.