Referendum

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir addresses parliament on October 12, 2010, in Khartoum where he said he would not accept an alternative to unity despite his commitment to a peace deal with the south that provides for an independence referendum. South Sudan, which fought a two-decade civil war against the north that ended in a 2005 peace deal, is set to vote on whether to secede or remain part of the country in a January 9 referendum. The peace deal gave the former southern rebels, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, semi-autonomous powers and a share in government, and promised a referendum on southern independence.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir addresses parliament on October 12, 2010, in Khartoum where he said he would not accept an alternative to unity despite his commitment to a peace deal with the south that provides for an independence referendum. South Sudan, which fought a two-decade civil war against the north that ended in a 2005 peace deal, is set to vote on whether to secede or remain part of the country in a January 9 referendum. The peace deal gave the former southern rebels, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, semi-autonomous powers and a share in government, and promised a referendum on southern independence.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir arrives to address parliament on October 12, 2010, in Khartoum where he said he would not accept an alternative to unity despite his commitment to a peace deal with the south that provides for an independence referendum. South Sudan, which fought a two-decade civil war against the north that ended in a 2005 peace deal, is set to vote on whether to secede or remain part of the country in a January 9 referendum. The peace deal gave the former southern rebels, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, semi-autonomous powers and a share in government, and promised a referendum on southern independence.

Jasbir Singh Lidder (R), Deputy Special Representative for the Sudan, Mohamed Ibrahim Khalil (3rd R), chairman of the South Sudan referendum Commission, Denis Kadima (2ndR), director of the United Nations Integrated Referendum and Electoral Division (UNIRED), as Scott Gration (L), US special envoy for Sudan, have a group photo taken as the international community hands over voter registration kits, registration training books and other materials to Sudanese referendum authorities on October 30, 2010, in Khartoum. Africa's biggest nation is scheduled to stage two ballots on January 9: one on the independence of southern Sudan and the other on whether the oil-rich region of Abyei should link up with the north or south.

Hayrunnisa Gul, wife of Turkish President Abdullah Gul, casts her vote at a polling station in Ankara on September 12, 2010 during a referendum on constitutional changes. Turks voted on September 12 whether to adopt highly divisive constitutional changes that would reshape the judiciary and curb army powers, in a major test of confidence in the Islamist-rooted government. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) insists that the reforms voted at Sunday's referendum will bring Turkish democracy closer to the norms of the EU, which the country is seeking to join. Turkey's President Abdullah Gul casts his vote during a referendum in Ankara September 12, 2010.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir speaks to members of parliament on October 12, 2010, in Khartoum where he said he would not accept an alternative to unity despite his commitment to a peace deal with the south that provides for an independence referendum. South Sudan, which fought a two-decade civil war against the north that ended in a 2005 peace deal, is set to vote on whether to secede or remain part of the country in a January 9 referendum. The peace deal gave the former southern rebels, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, semi-autonomous powers and a share in government, and promised a referendum on southern independence.

Mohamed Ibrahim Khalil, chairman of the South Sudan referendum Commission, speaks to the press at the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission offices in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on November 14, 2010, a day before voter registration for a January referendum in south Sudan kicks off across the country and abroad, launching a process which could lead to the partition of Africa's largest country.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir addresses parliament on October 12, 2010, in Khartoum where he said he would not accept an alternative to unity despite his commitment to a peace deal with the south that provides for an independence referendum. South Sudan, which fought a two-decade civil war against the north that ended in a 2005 peace deal, is set to vote on whether to secede or remain part of the country in a January 9 referendum. The peace deal gave the former southern rebels, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, semi-autonomous powers and a share in government, and promised a referendum on southern independence.

Sudanese Parliament speaker Ahmed Ibrahim al-Tahir addresses parliament on October 12, 2010, in Khartoum. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir said during the session that he would not accept an alternative to unity despite his commitment to a peace deal with the south that provides for an independence referendum. South Sudan, which fought a two-decade civil war against the north that ended in a 2005 peace deal, is set to vote on whether to secede or remain part of the country in a January 9 referendum. The peace deal gave the former southern rebels, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, semi-autonomous powers and a share in government, and promised a referendum on southern independence.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir addresses parliament on October 12, 2010, in Khartoum where he said he would not accept an alternative to unity despite his commitment to a peace deal with the south that provides for an independence referendum. South Sudan, which fought a two-decade civil war against the north that ended in a 2005 peace deal, is set to vote on whether to secede or remain part of the country in a January 9 referendum. The peace deal gave the former southern rebels, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, semi-autonomous powers and a share in government, and promised a referendum on southern independence.

'Yes' (L) and 'No' ballots are seen at a polling station in Ankara on September 12, 2010 during a referendum on constitutional changes. Turks voted on September 12 whether to adopt highly divisive constitutional changes that would reshape the judiciary and curb army powers, in a major test of confidence in the Islamist-rooted government. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) insists that the reforms voted at Sunday's referendum will bring Turkish democracy closer to the norms of the EU, which the country is seeking to join. Turkey's President Abdullah Gul casts his vote during a referendum in Ankara September 12, 2010.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir speaks to members of parliament on October 12, 2010, in Khartoum where he said he would not accept an alternative to unity despite his commitment to a peace deal with the south that provides for an independence referendum. South Sudan, which fought a two-decade civil war against the north that ended in a 2005 peace deal, is set to vote on whether to secede or remain part of the country in a January 9 referendum. The peace deal gave the former southern rebels, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, semi-autonomous powers and a share in government, and promised a referendum on southern independence.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir speaks to members of parliament on October 12, 2010, in Khartoum where he said he would not accept an alternative to unity despite his commitment to a peace deal with the south that provides for an independence referendum. South Sudan, which fought a two-decade civil war against the north that ended in a 2005 peace deal, is set to vote on whether to secede or remain part of the country in a January 9 referendum. The peace deal gave the former southern rebels, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, semi-autonomous powers and a share in government, and promised a referendum on southern independence.

Jasbir Singh Lidder (R), Deputy Special Representative for the Sudan, Mohamed Ibrahim Khalil (3rd R), chairman of the South Sudan referendum Commission, Denis Kadima (2ndR), director of the United Nations Integrated Referendum and Electoral Division (UNIRED), as Scott Gration (L), US special envoy for Sudan, have a group photo taken as the international community hands over voter registration kits, registration training books and other materials to Sudanese referendum authorities on October 30, 2010, in Khartoum. Africa's biggest nation is scheduled to stage two ballots on January 9: one on the independence of southern Sudan and the other on whether the oil-rich region of Abyei should link up with the north or south.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir addresses parliament on October 12, 2010, in Khartoum where he said he would not accept an alternative to unity despite his commitment to a peace deal with the south that provides for an independence referendum. South Sudan, which fought a two-decade civil war against the north that ended in a 2005 peace deal, is set to vote on whether to secede or remain part of the country in a January 9 referendum. The peace deal gave the former southern rebels, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, semi-autonomous powers and a share in government, and promised a referendum on southern independence.

Mohamed Ibrahim Khalil, chairman of the South Sudan referendum Commission, speaks to the press at the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission offices in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on November 14, 2010, a day before voter registration for a January referendum in south Sudan kicks off across the country and abroad, launching a process which could lead to the partition of Africa's largest country.

Sudanese Parliament speaker Ahmed Ibrahim al-Tahir addresses parliament on October 12, 2010, in Khartoum. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir said during the session that he would not accept an alternative to unity despite his commitment to a peace deal with the south that provides for an independence referendum. South Sudan, which fought a two-decade civil war against the north that ended in a 2005 peace deal, is set to vote on whether to secede or remain part of the country in a January 9 referendum. The peace deal gave the former southern rebels, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, semi-autonomous powers and a share in government, and promised a referendum on southern independence.

Sudanese Parliament speaker Ahmed Ibrahim al-Tahir addresses parliament on October 12, 2010, in Khartoum. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir said during the session that he would not accept an alternative to unity despite his commitment to a peace deal with the south that provides for an independence referendum. South Sudan, which fought a two-decade civil war against the north that ended in a 2005 peace deal, is set to vote on whether to secede or remain part of the country in a January 9 referendum. The peace deal gave the former southern rebels, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, semi-autonomous powers and a share in government, and promised a referendum on southern independence.

A man casts his vote during a referendum in Ankara on September 12, 2010. Turks voted on whether to adopt highly divisive constitutional changes that would restructure the judiciary and curb army powers, in a major test of confidence in the Islamist-rooted government.

A man casts his vote during a referendum in Ankara on September 12, 2010. Turks voted on whether to adopt highly divisive constitutional changes that would restructure the judiciary and curb army powers, in a major test of confidence in the Islamist-rooted government.

Celebrations take place during a mass wedding of some 1000 couples in what has been dubbed the 'Marriage of Unity' on November 13, 2010, in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, where men and women from the north and south of the country tied the knot. The wedding ceremonies come just two months prior to a referendum on the self-determination of Southern Sudan. The Muslim north and mostly Christian south agreed in 2005 to hold the referendum as part of a peace deal that ended a 22-year civil war.

A Sudanese bride is seen during a mass wedding of some 1000 couples in what has been dubbed the 'Marriage of Unity' on November 13, 2010, in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, where men and women from the north and south of the country tied the knot. The wedding ceremonies come just two months prior to a referendum on the self-determination of Southern Sudan. The Muslim north and mostly Christian south agreed in 2005 to hold the referendum as part of a peace deal that ended a 22-year civil war.

Salah Gosh, ex-chief of security now advisor to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, gives a speech during a mass wedding of some 1000 couples in what has been dubbed the 'Marriage of Unity' on November 13, 2010, in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, where men and women from the north and south tied the knot. The wedding ceremonies come just two months prior to a referendum on the self-determination of Southern Sudan. The Muslim north and mostly Christian south agreed in 2005 to hold the referendum as part of a peace deal that ended a 22-year civil war.

A resident of the remote south central Southern Sudan village of Nyal looks at the ink on his finger as he registered to vote with Referendum workers at a local school on November 15, 2010. Voter registration for a January referendum in south Sudan kicked off on Monday across the country and abroad, launching a process which could lead to the partition of Africa's largest country. The January referendums in southern Sudan and the oil-rich Abyei region straddling north and south are part of a 2005 peace deal that ended a two-decade-old civil war in Sudan which left an estimated two million dead.

A resident of the remote south central Southern Sudan village of Nyal receives his voting card from a referendum worker at a local school on November 15, 2010. Voter registration for a January referendum in south Sudan kicked off on Monday across the country and abroad, launching a process which could lead to the partition of Africa's largest country. The January referendums in southern Sudan and the oil-rich Abyei region straddling north and south are part of a 2005 peace deal that ended a two-decade-old civil war in Sudan which left an estimated two million dead.

Residents of the remote south central Southern Sudan village of Nyal wait to get their voting registration cards from a referendum official at a local school being used as a voter registration office on November 15, 2010. Voter registration for a January referendum in south Sudan kicked off on Monday across the country and abroad, launching a process which could lead to the partition of Africa's largest country. The January referendums in southern Sudan and the oil-rich Abyei region straddling north and south are part of a 2005 peace deal that ended a two-decade-old civil war in Sudan which left an estimated two million dead.

A resident of the remote south central Southern Sudan village of Nyal listens to news of the referendum as he waits in line to register his name with Referedum workers at a local school on November 15, 2010. Voter registration for a January referendum in south Sudan kicked off on Monday across the country and abroad, launching a process which could lead to the partition of Africa's largest country. The January referendums in southern Sudan and the oil-rich Abyei region straddling north and south are part of a 2005 peace deal that ended a two-decade-old civil war in Sudan which left an estimated two million dead.

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: British Foreign Secretary William Hague (R) speaks with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the UN Security Council to discuss the upcoming referendum in Sudan that may split Africa's largest county in two November 16, 2010 at the United Nations in New York City. The Referendum, which is scheduled for January 9th, is widely expected to lead to southerners voting to form their own country which would result in north Sudan losing vast oil reserves. The potential for violence during and following the vote has led to frantic diplomatic initiatives and guarantees to both northern and southern Sudanese leaders and parties.

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: Diplomats meet at the UN Security Council to discuss the upcoming referendum in Sudan that may split Africa's largest county in two on November 16, 2010 at the United Nations in New York City. The Referendum, which is scheduled for January 9th, is widely expected to lead to southerners voting to form their own country which would result in north Sudan losing vast oil reserves. The potential for violence during and following the vote has led to frantic diplomatic initiatives and guarantees to both northern and southern Sudanese leaders and parties.

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attends a meeting at the UN Security Council to discuss the upcoming referendum in Sudan that may split Africa's largest county in two on November 16, 2010 at the United Nations in New York City. The Referendum, which is scheduled for January 9th, is widely expected to lead to southerners voting to form their own country which would result in north Sudan losing vast oil reserves. The potential for violence during and following the vote has led to frantic diplomatic initiatives and guarantees to both northern and southern Sudanese leaders and parties.

A Sudanese girl has painted on her cheeks the Arabic word, 'Unity' as she listens to Nafie Ali Nafie, deputy head of Sudan's ruling National Congress Party and assistant of president Omar al-Bashir, addressing a crowd on November 9, 2010, at the start of his media campaign for pushing for unity in the upcoming referendum on self-determination of Southern Sudan. The Muslim north and mostly Christian south agreed in 2005 to hold the referendum as part of a peace deal that ended a 22-year civil war.

Residents of the remote south central Southern Sudan village of Nyal wait to get their voting registration cards from a referendum official at a local school being used as a voter registration office on November 15, 2010. Voter registration for a January referendum in south Sudan kicked off on Monday across the country and abroad, launching a process which could lead to the partition of Africa's largest country. The January referendums in southern Sudan and the oil-rich Abyei region straddling north and south are part of a 2005 peace deal that ended a two-decade-old civil war in Sudan which left an estimated two million dead.

A resident of the remote south central Southern Sudan village of Nyal registers to vote with Referendum workers at a local school on November 15, 2010. Voter registration for a January referendum in south Sudan kicked off on Monday across the country and abroad, launching a process which could lead to the partition of Africa's largest country. The January referendums in southern Sudan and the oil-rich Abyei region straddling north and south are part of a 2005 peace deal that ended a two-decade-old civil war in Sudan which left an estimated two million dead.

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: British Foreign Secretary William Hague (R) speaks with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the UN Security Council to discuss the upcoming referendum in Sudan that may split Africa's largest county in two November 16, 2010 at the United Nations in New York City. The Referendum, which is scheduled for January 9th, is widely expected to lead to southerners voting to form their own country which would result in north Sudan losing vast oil reserves. The potential for violence during and following the vote has led to frantic diplomatic initiatives and guarantees to both northern and southern Sudanese leaders and parties.

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: Secretary-General of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) Pagan Amum attends a meeting at the UN Security Council to discuss the upcoming referendum in Sudan that may split Africa's largest county in two on November 16, 2010 at the United Nations in New York City. The Referendum, which is scheduled for January 9th, is widely expected to lead to southerners voting to form their own country which would result in north Sudan losing vast oil reserves. The potential for violence during and following the vote has led to frantic diplomatic initiatives and guarantees to both northern and southern Sudanese leaders and parties.

Sudanese lawyer Ismail Hassan Hajj Ahmed briefs reporters with colleagues upon his arrival at a constitutional court in Khartoum on December 12, 2010 to file a complaint against the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the south Sudan referendum commission for 'violating referendum laws' during the registration process.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (L) and his wife, Emine, arrive at a polling station in Istanbul on September 12, 2010 during a referendum on constitutional changes. Turks voted on September 12 whether to adopt highly divisive constitutional changes that would reshape the judiciary and curb army powers, in a major test of confidence in the Islamist-rooted government. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) insists that the reforms voted at Sunday's referendum will bring Turkish democracy closer to the norms of the EU, which the country is seeking to join.

Sudanese airport employees receive shipments of voting kits to be used in the upcoming referendum on southern independence upon their arrival in Khartoum from South Africa on October 24, 2010. South Sudan will hold the referendum on January 9, 2011.

Mohamed Ibrahim Khalil,chairman of the South Sudan referendum Commission, speaks to the press as the international community hands over voter registration kits, registration training books and other materials to Sudanese referendum authorities on October 30, 2010, in Khartoum. Africa's biggest nation is scheduled to stage two ballots on January 9: one on the independence of southern Sudan and the other on whether the oil-rich region of Abyei should link up with the north or south.

A Sudanese girl has painted on her cheeks the Arabic word, 'Unity' as she listens to Nafie Ali Nafie, deputy head of Sudan's ruling National Congress Party and assistant of president Omar al-Bashir, addressing a crowd on November 9, 2010, at the start of his media campaign for pushing for unity in the upcoming referendum on self-determination of Southern Sudan. The Muslim north and mostly Christian south agreed in 2005 to hold the referendum as part of a peace deal that ended a 22-year civil war.

Jasbir Singh Lidder (R), Deputy Special Representative for the Sudan, Mohamed Ibrahim Khalil (3rd R), chairman of the South Sudan referendum Commission, as Scott Gration (L), US special envoy for Sudan, have a group photo taken as the international community hands over voter registration kits, registration training books and other materials to Sudanese referendum authorities on October 30, 2010, in Khartoum. Africa's biggest nation is scheduled to stage two ballots on January 9: one on the independence of southern Sudan and the other on whether the oil-rich region of Abyei should link up with the north or south.

French Education Minister Francois Fillon arrives at the Hotel Matignon, the official residence of the Prime Minister, 30 May 2005 in Paris for a meeting with Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin and members of the government. Raffarin held a brief meeting today with President Jacques Chirac following France's rejection of the EU constitution in a referendum, amid speculation that he will present his resignation. The 'no' vote in France's referendum on the EU constitution stood at 54.87 percent, against 45.13 percent for the 'yes' camp.

A Sudanese man and woman walk together during a mass wedding of some 1000 couples in what has been dubbed the 'Marriage of Unity' on November 13, 2010, in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, where men and women from the north and south of the country tied the knot. The wedding ceremonies come just two months prior to a referendum on the self-determination of Southern Sudan. The Muslim north and mostly Christian south agreed in 2005 to hold the referendum as part of a peace deal that ended a 22-year civil war.

A woman holds up an example of a ballot slip at the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission offices in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on November 14, 2010, a day before voter registration for a January referendum in south Sudan kicks off across the country and abroad, launching a process which could lead to the partition of Africa's largest country.

A resident of the remote south central Southern Sudan village of Nyal listens to news of the referendum as he waits in line to register his name with Referedum workers at a local school on November 15, 2010. Voter registration for a January referendum in south Sudan kicked off on Monday across the country and abroad, launching a process which could lead to the partition of Africa's largest country. The January referendums in southern Sudan and the oil-rich Abyei region straddling north and south are part of a 2005 peace deal that ended a two-decade-old civil war in Sudan which left an estimated two million dead.

A resident of the remote south central Southern Sudan village of Nyal registers himself with a referendum worker at a local school on November 15, 2010. Voter registration for a January referendum in south Sudan kicked off across the country and abroad, launching a process which could lead to the partition of Africa's largest country. The January referendums in southern Sudan and the oil-rich Abyei region straddling north and south are part of a 2005 peace deal that ended a two-decade-old civil war in Sudan which left an estimated two million dead.

A woman holds up an example of a ballot slip at the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission offices in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on November 14, 2010, a day before voter registration for a January referendum in south Sudan kicks off across the country and abroad, launching a process which could lead to the partition of Africa's largest country.

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: Ali Ahmed Karti (L), Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sudan, attends a meeting at the UN Security Council to discuss the upcoming referendum in Sudan that may split Africa's largest county in two on November 16, 2010 at the United Nations in New York City. The Referendum, which is scheduled for January 9th, is widely expected to lead to southerners voting to form their own country which would result in north Sudan losing vast oil reserves. The potential for violence during and following the vote has led to frantic diplomatic initiatives and guarantees to both northern and southern Sudanese leaders and parties.

A Sudanese girl has painted on her cheeks the Arabic word, 'Unity' as she listens to Nafie Ali Nafie, deputy head of Sudan's ruling National Congress Party and assistant of president Omar al-Bashir, addressing a crowd on November 9, 2010, at the start of his media campaign for pushing for unity in the upcoming referendum on self-determination of Southern Sudan. The Muslim north and mostly Christian south agreed in 2005 to hold the referendum as part of a peace deal that ended a 22-year civil war.

Men and women sit together during a mass wedding of some 1000 couples in what has been dubbed the 'Marriage of Unity' on November 13, 2010, in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, where men and women from the north and south of the country tied the knot. The wedding ceremonies come just two months prior to a referendum on the self-determination of Southern Sudan. The Muslim north and mostly Christian south agreed in 2005 to hold the referendum as part of a peace deal that ended a 22-year civil war.