Around the World: Sudan

New law allows vote

Sudan's parliament passed a long-disputed law governing a southern vote on independence yesterday, defusing a political crisis after months of wrangling between the north-south coalition government partners. Analysts believe that the referendum in January 2011 will almost inevitably lead to southern Sudan voting to separate from the north, with which it fought a civil war that cost the lives of two million people. Delays in implementing the 2005 peace deal that capped more than two decades of conflict pushed the former foes into a political collision over the law.