30 Jan 2011

South Sudanese choose secession

9:02 pm on 30 January 2011

More than 99% of south Sudanese have chosen to secede from the north in a 9-15 January referendum.

Updated figures published on the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission's website give secession an overwhelming 99.57% of the vote.

The figures account for 100% of ballots cast in both the north and the south

The results are expected to be confirmed by commission officials during an official ceremony attended by the president Salva Kiir in the southern capital Juba.