Official referendum results released today in Khartoum confirmed earlier predictions that Southern Sudanese voted overwhelmingly for secession–99 percent in favor, according to the official results. Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir accepted the results in a ceremony also attended by Southern Sudan's President Salva Kiir. Al Jazeera reports here. The White House issued a statement that the United States would recognize Southern Sudan "as a sovereign, independent state in July 2011."
Southern Sudan has been operating under an interim constitution since 2005, the year of the comprehensive peace agreement. President Kiir recently formed a constitutional review committee chaired by Minister of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development John Luk Jok to review that constitution as the region moves toward full independence.
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