Day Two of Voting in South Sudan: Determined To Be Independent

The BBC reports:

The BBC’s Will Ross says early turnout has not been as heavy as on the first day of the week-long vote, but voters seem just as determined.

But there is tension in the disputed oil-rich border region of Abyei, where clashes over the last three days have killed more than 30 people.

A 2005 deal ended the two-decade north-south war in which some 1.5m died.

Our correspondent, with voters in the southern village of Kotobi, says some in the queues said they were voting for friends and relatives killed by war.

The mainly Muslim north has promised the south, where most people are Christian or follow tradition religions, it will not block its plans to secede if that is the result of the vote.

The vote, agreed as part of the 2005 peace deal, is widely expected to result in Africa’s largest country being split in two.

Our correspondent says he has not yet met anyone who says they will vote for unity.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has said he will respect the outcome, but warned an independent south would face instability.

For the referendum to be valid, at least 60% of the 3.8 million registered voters must take part.