HEAD OF REFERENDUM COMMISSION SAYS PROCESS BEHIND SCHEDULE

The Chairman of the south Sudan Referendum commission warned that Sudan has little time left before the vote for southern Sudan referendum takes place in January 2011.Southerners are six months away from a referendum on whether they should split away as an independent nation.
The head of the commission, Mohammed Ibrahim Khalil, told the pro-government Al-Rayaam newspaper that lack of time remaining to prepare for the referendum is a major problem but affirmed that the commission would make necessary efforts to discharge its mandate.
Mr. Khalil noted that the constitution gives the commission twenty-four months but that it only has six months at its disposal.
He stressed that provision of security and the environment for conducting the referendum is the responsibility of the NCP and SPLM.
He pledged to carry out his duties impartially without any attempts to influence or distort the wishes of Southerners.