UN admits South Sudan as its 193rd member

The General Assembly has admitted South Sudan as the 193rd member of the United Nations, sealing the new African country's independence.

The assembly voted on Thursday by acclamation, following South Sudan's independence ceremony in the capital Juba on Saturday, after its people voted in a January referendum to break away from Sudan -- a decision accepted by Khartoum.

Applause broke out in the General Assembly as South Sudan became the first country to join the world body since Montenegro in 2006.

The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon welcomed South Sudan to the community of nations, after the new nation was admitted.  

Assembly President Joseph Deiss said it was a "historic and joyous moment."

South Sudan's vote for independence was held under the terms of a 2005 peace deal that ended a 20-year war between north and south Sudan.

Sudan became independent in 1956 but was long plagued by conflict between its mainly Muslim Arabic-speaking north and its black African south, where many are Christian or follow traditional beliefs.

The Security Council, which has to rule on all UN membership applications, had recommended on Wednesday that the General Assembly admit South Sudan.

Presenting the resolution to the assembly, South African Justice Minister Jeff Radebe said South Sudan was an exception to the African practice of adhering to colonial borders and "in no way creates a precedent for separatist tendencies."

REUTERS/Williams