New York - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon has welcomed the end of the week-long polling period for the Southern Sudan referendum, calling on the Sudanese to show patience and restraint for the final result.
In a statement, the Secretary-General commended the work of the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission in Khartoum and its Bureau in Juba, and of the two parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
He extended his gratitude to all donor countries whose contribution has facilitated the process and his appreciation to the observer groups that traveled throughout Sudan to assess the situation.
Between 9 and 15 January a national poll was held to determine whether the south should remain part of Sudan or independent, as part of the 2005 CPA that ended the long-running north-south civil war.
Sixty percent of the nearly four million voters registered to take part in the referendum have to vote for the outcome to be valid.
"The Secretary-General congratulates all the people of Sudan for the display of wisdom, patience, and peaceful determination that has characterised the voting over the last week," said the statement.
"He calls on the people and institutions of Sudan to exercise patience and restraint until the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission announces the final result of the referendum."
Preliminary results for the South Sudan referendum are expected to be announced by 2 February and depending on whether appeals are submitted to courts or not, the final result will be declared on 7 or 14 February.
