Curacao holds autonomy vote

The progression towards the break-up of the Dutch Antilles moves a stage further today with a referendum in Curacao, one of the five islands making up the federation.



Islanders are voting on a long-standing plan to increase Curacao\'s political autonomy to what\'s called country status within the Netherlands.



St Maarten is also meant to go the same route with the smaller territories of Saba, St Eustatius and Bonaire favouring more direct Dutch administration.



The referendum is non-binding but the outcome could affect the pace of constitutional change.