South Sudan Leader Calls For Secession

President of south Sudan Salva kiir called for full autonomy when the region status will be decided in a referendum due in 2011.

Speaking at a special church service to pray for peace, timed to mark the start of voter registration for multi-party elections due in April 2010, Kiir said voting for unity with the northerners will make them second class citizens in their own land.

Initially, officials have been careful in their public speeches to promote peace and unity between north and south, as their effort to bring peace was not forthcoming, says the BBC's Peter Martell in the South Sudan capital Juba.

The BBC Correspondent continued by saying that Mr Kiir's comments is likely to add to tensions between the north and south.

In October, South Sudan claimed to have achieved a breakthrough in negotiations with the north over terms for the referendum.

Sudan Vice-President Riek Machar said the vote would require a simple majority of up to two-thirds of those eligible took part. [ER]