Southern Sudan vote confirms split

Election officials say the final results from last month's vote in Southern Sudan show that more than 98 per cent of the ballots were cast for independence.

The results mean that Southern Sudan will become the world's newest country in July. Sudan President Omar Al-Bashir said Monday he accepts the outcome of the vote.

The two sides must still negotiate citizenship rights, oil rights and border demarcation.

A country yet to be named

Two decades of war between the predominantly Muslim north and rebels in the Christian-animist south killed at leasttwo million people before a 2005 peace agreement was reached. Residents are jubilant to have their own country at last, though much work remains.

Decades of war and poverty have kept Southern Sudan in a decrepit state, and its 8.7 million people live in one of the least developed regions in the world. The United Nations says a 15-year-old girl here has a higher chance of dying in childbirth than finishing school. An estimated 85 per cent of the population is illiterate.

Adding to the challenges, the prices of some everyday goods like sugar, soap and cooking oil have increased by more than 50 per cent in recent weeks.

"The list is long," said Athai Peter, 25, as he stood at a job advertisement board outside a UN agency on Monday. "The roads are so poor in many places that we have very high food prices."

A new currency must be established. Diplomatic missions need to be opened. And a country name must be chosen.

Critical negotiations still must be held with the north to decide on citizenship rights, oil rights and even the final border demarcation.

The U.S. national intelligence director warned last year of a possible new mass killing or genocide in Sudan over the referendum. That no longer looks likely. Sudan President Omar al-Bashir on Monday backed the final results and said he wanted to be the first to congratulate the south on its new state.

Al-Bashir's remarks seemed designed to help ensure a continuous flow of southern oil through the pipelines in the north. About 98 per cent of Southern Sudan's budget comes from oil revenue.

U.S. President Barack Obama said Monday that Southern Sudan's indepedence will be recognized by the United States in July.

In a statement, Obama congratulated the citizens of Southern Sudan for "a successful and inspiring" referendum.