Southerners free to vote for secession – Sudan’s al-Bashir

Feb 14, 2006 (JUBA) — President Omar al-Bashir, said the people of southern Sudan are free to vote for separation in the referendum in five years’ time, the Sudan radio service reported.

Al-Bashir was speaking this morning in Juba during his tour of southern Sudan states since the signing of comprehensive peace agreement on 9 January 2005.

He said that the people of southern Sudan are free to vote for secession after the six-years interim period if they want to.

The president told a public rally at the Peace Square in Juba that the government in Khartoum will respect the verdict of the southern Sudanese should they choose to separate from the rest of the country.

He said that the central government will work for the unity of the country prior to the referendum, but added that the government will not force unity on the people of southern Sudan.

He said that incase of separation, the northerner’s will treat the southerners as brothers, adding that officials in Khartoum will even come to southern Sudan to join them in celebrating their independence anniversary.

(SRS/ST)