Sudan Leaders Reach
Deal On Referendum
A
deal on the terms of a referendum on Sudan’s independence has
been struck by leaders of Sudan and of its semi-autonomous
southern region.
Officials said the leaders had agreed on the proportion of votes
and turnout needed for the referendum to be binding.
It was one of four issues at the heart of crisis talks between
President Omar al-Bashir and Salva Kiir.
One other issue remains unresolved. The remaining sticking point
concerns a law on the role of the national security service. A
committee will be set up to decide the issue, which is
particularly important in the run-up to next April's elections.
Elections are due in April next year and in 2011 the South will
vote in a referendum on possible independence.
Representatives of Mr Kiir's party, the former Southern rebels
of the SPLM, and the ruling National Congress Party held a joint
news conference to announce the new deal, reached in Khartoum.
The two leaders fought each other during the country's
two-decade long civil war and have been uneasy partners since a
peace deal - which has been looking increasingly shaky - was
signed in 2005.
A report quotes SPLM secretary general Pagan Amum as saying:
"With this agreement we announce the end of the crisis between
the two partners."
He said MPs who had been boycotting parliament for the past 45
days would start attending sessions.
Full details of the terms of the 2011 referendum have not yet
been released, as both leaders will take the deal to their
parties first for ratification.
A senior official for the SPLM told the BBC that a 50% plus one
vote would be needed for independence, as long as the turnout
was high enough.
The two leaders also reached agreement on a referendum for the
Abyei region and popular consultations for two others.
BBC/Yinka
