Leader wants independent vote
2009-10-26 16:52
Cairo - South Sudan's leader Salva Kiir said on Monday there would be no delay in a promised 2011 referendum to decide whether the south becomes independent from Khartoum.
"The referendum will take place on its scheduled date on January 9 2011 with no change," Kiir told reporters in Cairo after talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
Sudan is due to hold general elections in 2010, the first in nearly 30 years, ahead of the 2011 referendum.
Kiir's visit comes amid efforts by Egypt to maintain Sudanese unity.
"The choice will be for the south on whether it will choose unity or secession," Kiir said.
After talks with Kiir on Sunday, Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif urged the people of south Sudan to vote for unity.
Nazif "reiterated Egypt's support for the Comprehensive Peace Agreement" of 2005 that ended two decades of war between north and south Sudan, "hoping that it will lead to preserving Sudan's unity and territorial integrity," cabinet spokesman Magdi Radi said.
The premier "did stress that Egypt would respect any choice made by the people of south Sudan regarding their future, but hoped that they would choose unity with the north," Radi said.