UN panel monitors polling centers in South Sudan's independence referendum

UN panel monitors polling centers in South Sudan's independence referendum

2011-01-11 06:21:40 GMT+7 (ICT)

El FASHER, SUDAN (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations monitoring panel on Monday informed that it is monitoring and touring polling centers as the week-long vote entered its second day.

Former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa is leading the three-member panel designated by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Mkapa said that the independence referendum got off to a good start with officials successfully handling a large initial turnout, despite some reports of violence.

The UN monitoring panel continues their tour of polling centers, visiting three states, talking to voters and meeting with Government and referendum officials. Mkapa added that the turnout in the first day was overwhelming.

"Our hope is that when we finish on the 15th (of January), the results will be aggregated as quickly as possibly so that we can settle the minds of the voters as well as the international community who are looking forward to a conclusive and credible result of this referendum," said Mkapa.

Southern Sudan Government President Salva Kiir Mayardit was among the first to vote when polls opened at 8 a.m. local time on Sunday. About 3.9 million people have registered to vote, which includes an estimated 23,000 people in the Darfur states.

Voters slept on the streets, outside polling stations, to be among the first to cast their ballot in what is expected to be a historic event for the South Sudan region. Voters will decide on whether to secede from the national government or not.

The turnout during the second day, however, was considerably as the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) informed. Ban praised the Government and the Southern Sudanese regional authorities for their efforts to ensure a peaceful referendum.

Ban also recommended authorities to work out post-referendum citizenship, residency and labor issues as well as wealth sharing, resolving the Abyei situation and demarcating borders.

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