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.


Referendum Commission Pleased With Conduct of Sudan Vote

   Peter Clottey  17 January 2011

Photo: AP

   An  official of Sudanâs referendum commission told VOA both the ruling
   National  Congress  Party  (NCP)  and  the  Sudan  Peopleâs Liberation
   Movement (SPLM) have indicated their willingness to accept the outcome
   of the just-ended referendum.

   Commission  spokesman  George Benjamin said his organization is so far
   pleased with the conduct of the week-long vote congratulating southern
   Sudanese  for  being  peaceful  and  comporting themselves in a âcivil
   mannerâ during the voting period.

   âThe  referendum process is going on well and itâs going on normal and
   going as planned. All the centers are engaged in counting. Counting is
   going  on  very  well  and we are having initial results from here and
   there,â said Benjamin.

   âIt  seems  everything  went very well and this is by the testimony of
   many  important organizations that were observing the process. Many of
   them  gave  statements to the fact that the process went well and that
   it was in accordance with international standards, and so we are going
   for a good ending.â

   International  observers have voiced their approval for the conduct of
   southern Sudan's independence referendum.

   Benjamin  said, despite challenges, the referendum commission was able
   to organize a credible vote that meets international standards.

   âThe   referendum   commission   is  really  very  pleased  about  its
   performance  and  about  its  achievement.  Particularly, it underwent
   difficult  conditions  when  it  was  started. The time was really too
   shortâ¦but,  at  the end, the process ended very well without problems
   and even without security issues. So, the commission is very pleased,â
   said Benjamin.

   âThe  NCP  and  the SPLM have confirmed through statements made by the
   leadership  of  both  parties  that  they  are also satisfied with the
   process and they are satisfied with the progress of work, and that the
   process  was  really  conducted under conditions of calm and peace and
   that everybody agrees that the process was credible and transparent.â

   The  European  Union  said  Monday  the  week-long  vote to decide the
   region's future was credible and carried out peacefully.

   A  group of observers, led by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, said
   the  vote  was  âconsistent  with international standards.â The Carter
   Center  also  said that, based on early results, âit appears virtually
   certainâ  that  Sudan's  mostly-Christian  south  will secede from the
   mainly Muslim north.

   Preliminary  returns  from large southern cities point to overwhelming
   support  for secession. The referendum commission also says 97 percent
   of southern Sudanese who voted in Egypt opted for separation.
   An  announcement  of  final results is not expected 14^th February. If
   the  people  of  the  south  approve independence, southern Sudan will
   become its own country in July.

.