Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. South Sudan Party Announces Support for Independence VOA News 11 December 2010 Southern Sudanese citizens clog the streets of the southern capital Juba, as they march in support of the independence referendum, to be held one month from today, 09 Dec. 2010 Photo: AP Southern Sudanese citizens clog the streets of the southern capital Juba, as they march in support of the independence referendum, to be held one month from today, 09 Dec. 2010 Southern Sudan's ruling party has come out formally in support of southern independence for the first time ahead of a referendum to decide the matter. A top official in the south's Sudan People's Liberation Movement, Anne Itto, said Saturday that the north has not made unity attractive, so the party is promoting what the people want. Asked to clarify, she said "separation." Her comments go against the rules of a 2005 peace agreement that stipulated both the SPLM and the north's ruling National Congress Party would campaign to make unity attractive. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement ended Sudan's 21-year north-south civil war and promised the referendum on southern independence.  Tension has been rising ahead of the January 9 vote, with both sides accusing each other of building up troops along their shared border. NCP officials have given mixed signals on whether they will respect the results of the poll. .