Post date: Jan 09, 2011 11:40:55 AM
Sudanese cast ballots in a referendum that will choose between unity or secession for the south.
Southern Sudanese have begun casting their ballots in a referendum that could split Africa's largest country.
Villagers went to the polls early in Kadugli, a town near the border between the north and south and the oil-rich area of Abyei.
Some voters were queuing as early as midnight.
Millions of Southern Sudanese are participating in the long-awaited referendum, that may grant them independence and see South Sudan emerge as the world's newest nation state. REGISTERED VOTER, EMMANUEL KERI, SAYING:
"I am like a slave but I will never come back to being a slave again when I vote today."
The vote is the culmination of a peace deal signed in 2005. The agreement ended a civil war that killed two million people and destabilised neighbours in the continent.
South Sudan President Salva Kiir cast his ballot in the capital, Juba.
SOUTH SUDANESE PRESIDENT SALVA KIIR, SAYING:
"I would like to call upon all the southern Sudanese people to be patient in case one does not get time to cast his or her vote today. You have more days that you can cast your vote."
International observers in Khartoum are optimistic the polls would be conducted smoothly.
EUROPEAN UNION CHIEF MISSION OBSERVER, VERONIQUE DE KEYSER, SAYING:
"You can feel in the crowd the expectations of the people which is important, second of all it is very very well organised, very well organised, people are queuing very quietly etcetera."
While observers say that reaching this historic referendum without relapsing into war is an achievement -- there are burning issues to be resolved if the north and south are divided -- such as where the new border will be drawn , and how oil revenues will be shared.
Michaela Cabrera, Reuters.