Southern Sudan's Historic Independence Referendum
Rate Article:
Pause 
Play Image 1 of 10: Men walk down a road in an area for displaced Sudanese in the southern Sudanese city of Juba, Sudan.
Pause Play Image 1 of 10: A man places his vote in a plastic box at a polling station.
Pause Play Image 1 of 10: A woman displays her voting card while in line to vote.
Pause Play Image 1 of 10: A man votes at a polling station.
Pause Play Image 1 of 10: A south Sudanese police officer guards a polling station.
Pause Play Image 1 of 10: Salva Kiir Mayardit, acting President of the Government of Southern Sudan, casts his vote during the first day of voting for the independence referendum in the southern Sudanese city of Juba, Sudan.
Pause Play Image 1 of 10: A woman votes with her daughter at a polling station.
Pause Play Image 1 of 10: A woman votes during the first day of voting for the independence referendum.
Pause Play Image 1 of 10: A woman places her finger in blue ink after voting.
Pause Play Image 1 of 10: American actor George Clooney attends voting ceremonies.
A referendum is taking place in Southern Sudan from 9 January until 15 January 2011 on whether the region should remain a part of Sudan or be independent. The referendum is one of the consequences of the 2005 Naivasha Agreement between the Khartoum central government and the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M).
A simultaneous referendum was supposed be held in Abyei on whether to become part of Southern Sudan but it was postponed due to conflict over demarcation and residency rights.
