"We expect this outcome to be confirmed by members of the international community," Kiir said.

The leader of south Sudan, Silva Kir, said on Monday he awaited the international confirmation of the outcome of referendum on the region’s separation from the north.

"We expect this outcome to be confirmed by members of the international community, begining with those present in this august assembly," Kiir told African Union (AU) leaders at a summit in Addis Ababa.
About 98 percent of south Sudanese voted to separate from the north in the landmark January 9-15 referendum, according to full preliminary results released Sunday.

"We must therefore begin preparing to welcome the consequences of this historic decision and we are now presented with the opportunity to cement the transition towards an era of long-term peace and stability in the Sudan and the wider region," Kiir said at a special AU meeting on Sudan.

The meeting was attended by UN chief Ban Ki-moon, Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir, AU commission chief Jean Ping and officials from an east African peace bloc.
The South Sudan leader reiterated his Sudan People's Liberation Movement's position that the contested region of Abyei should hold a referendum to determine its future or be handed to the south through by a presidential decree.

"I shall be remiss if I do not express our disappointment that the referendum required by the CPA on Abyei did not take place..," said Kiir, referring to the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended a 20-year civil war between north and south, Africa's longest.