South Sudan referendum: 99% vote for independence

08:01, 31 January 2011

KHARTOUM. January 31. KAZINFORM Some 99% of South Sudanese voted to secede from the north, according to the first complete results of the region's independence referendum; Kazinform refers to BBC News.

A total of 99.57 percent of those polled voted for independence, according to the referendum commission.

Early counting had put the outcome of the ballot beyond doubt, indicating Southern Sudan had secured a mandate to become the world's newest nation.

The poll was agreed as part of a 2005 peace deal to end two decades of war.

Final results from the 9-15 January vote, which Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has said he will accept, are expected early next month.

If the result is confirmed, the new country is set to formally declare its independence on 9 July.

Hundreds of officials and diplomats gathered in Juba at the grave of rebel leader John Garang for the first official announcement of the results; Kazinform cites BBC News.

See www.bbc.co.uk for full story

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