Sudan's Bashir visits South's Juba ahead of vote

On a rare visit to Juba on Tuesday, Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir told southerners he would celebrate the result of Sunday's referendum on southern independence, "even if you choose secession."

"I personally will be sad if Sudan splits. But at the same time I will be happy if we have peace in Sudan between the two sides," Bashir said in a speech to senior southern officials broadcast live on state television.

"I am going to celebrate your decision, even if your decision is secession."

He had earlier been greeted by southern leader Salva Kiir on his arrival at Juba airport, where he was given a red carpet welcome by senior southern politicians, religious leaders and a guard of honor from the combined armed forces of north and south Sudan.

World's 193rd country

Hundreds of pro-independence demonstrators waited outside the airport, chanting and waving southern flags and placards. One read "Welcome to the 193rd country," referring to Southern Sudan's hopes to become the world's newest nation.

In his speech, Bashir said unity was the best choice for the southerners, but he also insisted he wanted good relations with the south if it chooses independence, and repeated his message that the links between north and south Sudan were unique.

"Anything you need in terms of technical, logistical or professional support from Khartoum, you will find us ready to give it," he said.

"The benefit we get from unity, we can also get it from two separate states."

A heavy security presence was deployed in Juba, where armed soldiers were seen patrolling the streets.

"We will give him a warm welcome," said southern information minister Barnaba Marial said ahead of Bashir's arrival.

"His recent conciliatory statements have pleased a lot of people. We have asked our public to be courteous, welcoming and kind, because there is no competition here," Marial told reporters in Juba.

The Sudanese president last week pledged to help build a secure, stable and "brotherly" state in the south if it votes for independence, in a speech delivered in northern Gezira state.

I personally will be sad if Sudan splits. But at the same time I will be happy if we have peace in Sudan between the two sides. I am going to celebrate your decision, even if your decision is secession

president Omar al-Bashir

American optimism

"The U.S. State Department, meanwhile, said it was optimistic ahead of the vote, which is due to begin in six days and marks the climax of a 2005 peace deal that ended a civil war in Sudan that killed at least 2 million people and destabilized much of the region.

"At this point we are optimistic about the referendum of this coming weekend. Sudan and southern Sudan have come a long way over these past few months," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told a news briefing in Washington.

Crowley said both the Obama administration's special envoy for Sudan, Scott Gration, and Princeton Lyman, a veteran U.S. diplomat named to help negotiations between north and south, would be in Sudan for the vote, and said both sides appeared to be sending "the right signals" about the need for an open and credible process.

"We believe the right signals are being sent both in the north and south in terms of the upcoming referendum and respecting the results," he said.

But he noted that the two sides remain split on key issues including border demarcation, the fate of the disputed region of Abyei, and the sharing of oil revenues -- any of which could spark potential confrontation in the weeks following the referendum.

"But we also are very sober in that, depending on the choices made by the people of southern Sudan this weekend, we know there is still a long way to go and a difficult road ahead as we get into negotiations between the north and the south."

Registration process

Almost 4 million southern Sudanese, or roughly half the south's population, have registered to take part in the vote on separation, officials said late on Monday.

"The total number of people registered in the south, in the eight countries abroad and in the states of northern Sudan is 3,930,916," said Chan Reek Madut, a member of the referendum's organizing commission.

The vast majority of voters are in the southern region. Only some sixty thousand registered in the diaspora and less than 120,000 in the north, amid accusations of voter intimidation and a fear of reprisals should the south separate.

The south's population was estimated to be 8 million in the latest census.

Madut said 52 percent of those registered were women. Organizers made a concerted effort to ensure women, often uneducated in rural areas, were able to sign up to vote.

All voting materials are expected to be in place across the region by Tuesday, dispelling fears that the late awarding of a tender to print ballot papers could delay the vote.

Madut said the option to extend the voting period was still available to organizers.

"If it appears there is a good reason we will recommend to the commission that there be an extension," he said.

Voter registration also took place in neighboring Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Egypt, as well as in Australia, Britain, the United States and Canada.

Those eligible to vote include permanent residents of south Sudan since 1956, when the country gained independence, and those who can trace their ancestry to an established south Sudan tribe.

Observers are predicting overwhelming support for secession.

International bodies charged with monitoring the referendum include the Carter Center, the European Union and the Arab League.

In order to be valid, the referendum requires that 60 percent of those registered turn out to vote.

At this point we are optimistic about the referendum of this coming weekend. Sudan and southern Sudan have come a long way over these past few months

State Department spokesman Philip Crowley