Referendum in South Sudan: several dead in clashes in central Somalia

On the second day of a referendum on the independence of Southern Sudan must be spread over a week, the incidents are increasing. At least 23 people died in clashes with Arab nomads in the region of Abyei in central Sudan, relevant leaders in this region Monday. The central region of Abyei is inhabited by the Ngok Dinka, Dinka ethnic group related to South Sudan and the nomadic Arab Misseriya from the north, who fear losing their land in case of passage under the authority of the South.

Both sides claim Abyei Sudan. A separate referendum to be held in the oil region of Abyei in central Sudan to determine if they join the north or south, but regional leaders failed to agree on the organization returning officer, who did well not have taken place as scheduled on Sunday. The leaders of the Ngok Dinka tribe accuse Khartoum of arming the militia Misseriya with which clashes took place Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The army of South Sudan accuses the North to support the fighters involved in the recent fighting, but a spokesman for the Northern army on Sunday denied any involvement by his troops in battle. A source close to the UN, it was stated that at some were reports of a group of fighters Misseriya Monday Golih Langar, 25 km north of Abyei town, the headquarters of UN troops in region but also international NGOs.

"Many Misseriya militia attacked yesterday (Sunday) the locality of Maker with the support of government militiamen. It was the continuing attacks of 7 and 8. The first day he had a death September 2 and 13 yesterday. They are all inhabitants of Maker, "said Charles Abyei, a spokesman for the government of the Abyei region.

The southern Sudanese continue to participate massively in the referendum on independence, the second day of a vote which should lead to the partition of the largest country in Africa. At the University of Juba, capital of South Sudan, long queues stretched to the local office. Some voters have even arrived in the night hoping to cast their ballot in the ballot box.

Even scenes in Rumbek, the former Confederate capital with thousands of huts with straw roofs, where long queues formed in front of a polling station in the shade of a tree.

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