Row over Sudan secession remarks

Salva Kiir, South Sudan's president, gave his strongest hint yet that he would vote to declare independence from the north in a looming referendum, stoking tensions 100 days ahead of the sensitive plebiscite. Kiir told thousands of supporters in the southern capital Juba that he would not vote for unity as nothing had been done to make unity attractive, increasing pressure on already deeply troubled relations with northern leaders who are campaigning for the two halves of the country to stay together. "I have my own assessment, and I can say what I have observed by myself ... I can say if I was to vote alone for unity or the secession or independence of southern Sudan, I would not vote for unity because I have not seen what attracted me to unity," Kiir said on Friday, in a recording of his speech heard by the Reuters news agency.