China can play role in revitalizing S. Sudan

BEIJING - China can play a positive role in revitalizing southern Sudan after voters there overwhelmingly decided to establish Africa's newest country, analysts said.

The South Sudan Referendum Commission on Monday announced the final results of a Jan 9-15 referendum saying that 98.83 percent of the voters had supported separation.

Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir said his government would accept the result, setting the stage for the creation of the world's newest country this July.