South Sudan Celebrates as Referendum Results Confirmed
The Southern Sudan Referendum Commission said 98.8 percent of voters favored separation in this month's landmark referendum. It said only 16,000 people out of 3.8 million voted to keep Sudan unified.
Earlier, partial results had made the outcome clear but Sunday marked the first time the complete tally was announced.
Southern Sudan's leader, Salva Kiir, praised Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for agreeing to the 2005 accord that ended Sudan's civil war and paved the way for the referendum.
He held off proclaiming his region's independence, saying south Sudan must respect the accord. The agreement says the south can declare independence on July 9.
Northern Sudanese leaders, including President Bashir, have said they will accept the referendum's results.
The sides still have several issues to resolve, especially the fate of the oil-producing Abyei region, which sits along the north-south border.
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