9 January 2011Last updated at 16:15

In pictures: Southern Sudan referendum

There is a carnival atmosphere in Southern Sudan on the first day of a referendum on whether to secede from the north.

People dancing and singing outside polling station in Juba

People have been singing and dancing outside some polling stations with a vote in favour of dividing Africa's biggest country in two seen as a foregone conclusion.

Balloons outside polling station, with people queuing to vote overnight

Some people queued up overnight even though the voting lasts for seven days.

The referendum was part of a 2005 peace deal to end two decades of conflict between the mainly Arabic-speaking, Muslim north and the south, where most people are Christian or follow traditional religions.

Former rebel commander Salva Kiir is set to be the first leader of the new country, which is set to come into being in July. He was the first to vote in the southern capital, Juba.

There have been widespread fears of violence around the poll with some southerners saying the north would never let their oil-rich region leave but, so far, voting has been largely peaceful.

Southern Sudan is one of the world's poorest regions and the vast majority of people cannot read and write, so ballot papers have the symbol of clasped hands to denote unity and an open hand for secession.

Voter's finger being dipped in indelible ink to show he has voted

After they have voted, people's forefingers are dipped in indelible ink to prevent them from casting a second ballot.

This woman's finger tips are already covered in henna, so the election official used the ink between her fingers.

Hundreds of thousands of southerners fled the war to live in the north but many have returned ahead of the referendum and polling stations in Khartoum were much less busy than in the south.

People queue to vote in Nyala, South Darfur

These southerners voted in Darfur. Some hope, while others fear, that seccession for the south could encourage rebels in Darfur to seek their region's independence.

Many southerners also fled to neighbouring countries such as Kenya, where voting is also taking place. In Nairobi people pushed and shoved to get into this polling station.

People waving Southern Sudan flags in Tel Aviv, Israel

Southern Sudanese have also made it to Israel. Although there was no voting there, a rally was held in Tel Aviv to support southern independence.

People celebrate after returning to Southern Sudan from Kampala

This group of southerners returned from Uganda on polling day and celebrated as they arrived back in their homeland.

Africa

In pictures: Southern Sudan referendum

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