By Peter Martell
BBC News, Juba
20 January 2010
Cheers of support rang out in Southern Sudan as President Omar al-Bashir said he would accept the result of a referendum next year - even if the oil-rich south voted for independence.
In the town of Yambio, where Mr Bashir was speaking at celebrations to mark five years since the end of the north-south war, the crowds shouted and waved the south's flag with wide smiles.
Mr Bashir said his northern National Congress Party did not want the south to secede, but would support the choice of the people.
It is a message dear to hearts of the people in the south.
"If the result of the referendum is separation, then we in the NCP will be the first to take note of this decision and to support it," said Mr Bashir, a soldier who spent long years battling to crush the southern rebel fighters.
It was his closest acknowledgement yet of the possibility of separation, and was well received.
Many were optimistic his unusually conciliatory tone bodes well for the south, where opinion on the streets seems overwhelmingly for separation.
Mr Bashir, in a broadcast shown on national television, joined the south's President Salva Kiir on top of an open pick-up truck, waving with his trademark stick to crowds in the packed stadium.
Both will have bitter memories of the long years they fought each other, yet they seemed keen to swallow any personal distrust to show the public that they can work together for the sake of their people.
Mr Bashir was even seen to nod in time to the music of a military parade in front of him by the south's army - former rebel fighters who were once his sworn enemies.
Read the rest here.
BBC News, Juba
20 January 2010
Cheers of support rang out in Southern Sudan as President Omar al-Bashir said he would accept the result of a referendum next year - even if the oil-rich south voted for independence.
In the town of Yambio, where Mr Bashir was speaking at celebrations to mark five years since the end of the north-south war, the crowds shouted and waved the south's flag with wide smiles.
Mr Bashir said his northern National Congress Party did not want the south to secede, but would support the choice of the people.
It is a message dear to hearts of the people in the south.
"If the result of the referendum is separation, then we in the NCP will be the first to take note of this decision and to support it," said Mr Bashir, a soldier who spent long years battling to crush the southern rebel fighters.
It was his closest acknowledgement yet of the possibility of separation, and was well received.
Many were optimistic his unusually conciliatory tone bodes well for the south, where opinion on the streets seems overwhelmingly for separation.
Mr Bashir, in a broadcast shown on national television, joined the south's President Salva Kiir on top of an open pick-up truck, waving with his trademark stick to crowds in the packed stadium.
Both will have bitter memories of the long years they fought each other, yet they seemed keen to swallow any personal distrust to show the public that they can work together for the sake of their people.
Mr Bashir was even seen to nod in time to the music of a military parade in front of him by the south's army - former rebel fighters who were once his sworn enemies.
Read the rest here.
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