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| UN chief appeals for Sudan unity | UN chief appeals for Sudan unity |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| The UN secretary general has urged African leaders to work for national unity in Sudan to avoid the south of the country seceding from the north. | The UN secretary general has urged African leaders to work for national unity in Sudan to avoid the south of the country seceding from the north. |
| Ban Ki-moon's appeal comes as the African Union is due to hold its summit in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. | Ban Ki-moon's appeal comes as the African Union is due to hold its summit in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. |
| Mr Ban said both the UN and AU had a big responsibility "to maintain peace in Sudan and make unity attractive". | Mr Ban said both the UN and AU had a big responsibility "to maintain peace in Sudan and make unity attractive". |
| A referendum is due next year on whether the oil-rich south should become independent. | A referendum is due next year on whether the oil-rich south should become independent. |
| Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has said he will accept the result of the poll even if the south voted for independence. | Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has said he will accept the result of the poll even if the south voted for independence. |
| The theme of the three-day AU summit in Addis Ababa is information and technology. | The theme of the three-day AU summit in Addis Ababa is information and technology. |
| But heads of states will also be discussing, among other issues, the escalating violence in Somalia and who will take over the AU chairmanship from Libya. | But heads of states will also be discussing, among other issues, the escalating violence in Somalia and who will take over the AU chairmanship from Libya. |
| The position should go to Malawi, the choice of the southern African regional grouping, SADC. | The position should go to Malawi, the choice of the southern African regional grouping, SADC. |
| But Libya wants to extend its one-year term and has Tunisia's support. | |
| With eastern and southern African countries apparently solidly behind Malawi, it could be a bruising contest for the AU chairmanship, writes the BBC's Uduak Amimo. | With eastern and southern African countries apparently solidly behind Malawi, it could be a bruising contest for the AU chairmanship, writes the BBC's Uduak Amimo. |
| High tensions | High tensions |
| "Whatever the result of the [southern Sudan's] referendum we have to think how to manage the outcome," Mr Ban said in a joint interview with AFP and RFI radio. | "Whatever the result of the [southern Sudan's] referendum we have to think how to manage the outcome," Mr Ban said in a joint interview with AFP and RFI radio. |
| Critical year ahead for Sudan | Critical year ahead for Sudan |
| "It is very important for Sudan but also for the region. We'll work hard to avoid a possible secession," he added. | "It is very important for Sudan but also for the region. We'll work hard to avoid a possible secession," he added. |
| Sudan's mainly Muslim north and the Animist and Christian South ended their two-decade war in 2005 and joined a unity government. | Sudan's mainly Muslim north and the Animist and Christian South ended their two-decade war in 2005 and joined a unity government. |
| But tensions remain high as in April the country holds its first genuine multi-party national elections since 1986. | |
| The south, which has a semi-autonomous government, is likely to vote to secede from the north in the 2011 referendum, correspondents say. | The south, which has a semi-autonomous government, is likely to vote to secede from the north in the 2011 referendum, correspondents say. |