Referendum in south Sudan: About 4 million people to the poll centres

JUBA (Sudan)- The poll centres for the referendum on the future of south Sudan opened Sunday morning in Sudan where about four million people will have to choose between maintaining national unity or secession of the southern region. 3,930,916 people are affected by this referendum. This number includes more than 3.75 million people registered in Southern Sudan, and 116,000 others in the northern states, and 60,000 in eight foreign countries, according to the referendum commission in charge of the organization of the vote. According to the referendum law, at least 60% of the four million voters must vote to that the result will be valid. In this regard, Sudanese officials have urged people to go to the polls as early as the first two days to get the earliest possible a high participation rate.