苏丹总统承诺，如果南部分离，将向其提供援助 Sudan's President Bashir Pledges to Aid South If it Secedes
苏丹总统巴希尔说，如果南部苏丹像预期的那样在星期天投票中选择独立，他准备协助南苏丹。
巴希尔星期二罕见的造访南部首府朱巴。他说，他的政府希望苏丹统一，但是用他的话说，如果南部选择分离，他的政府将表示“祝贺”。
他还表示，北部和南部苏丹有着特有的纽带，而且喀土穆准备给南方提供它所需要的任何技术或后勤方面的支持。
巴希尔一再暗示，他将接受南部的独立。此前的几个月，他本人以及苏丹执政党的其他官员在这个问题上发出了不同的信号。
南部苏丹星期天将就是否独立的问题举行全民公投。组织者星期一说，他们对这次投票做了“百分之百的准备”。他们说，几乎4百万人，大约是南部人口的一半，已经登记投票。
全民公投委员会的高级官员瑞克说，尽管缺少巴希尔政府许诺的资金，公投将如期举行。
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir says he is prepared to assist southern Sudan if the region votes for independence on Sunday as expected.
In a rare visit to the southern capital of Juba Tuesday, Mr. Bashir said his government wants a unified Sudan but will, in his words, "celebrate" if the south chooses to secede.
He also said northern and southern Sudan have unique ties, and that Khartoum is prepared to give the south any technical or logistical support it needs.
Mr. Bashir has repeatedly indicated he will accept southern independence, after months of mixed signals from him and other officials in Sudan's ruling party.
The south holds a referendum on the independence question Sunday. Organizers said Monday they are "100 percent prepared" for the poll. They said almost four million people -- about half of the south's population -- have registered to vote.
A top official on the referendum commission, Chan Reec, said the poll will go forward despite a lack of promised funding from the Bashir government.