Polling stations in Sudan, in which the country may split into two independent countries, closed on Sunday, a RIA Novosti correspondent has reported.
Polling stations in 10 states in Southern Sudan, as well as stations in the north of the country, closed at 14:00 GMT. The Sudanese are voting on a referendum to either remain as a unified state or divide the largest African nation of around 44 million people into two states.
The elections are being monitored by more than 20,000 observers and over 1,000 journalists from around the world.
"Election committees from around the world should study the experience of the Sudanese commission on holding the referendum," the head of Russia's observer delegation, Senator Aslanbek Aslakhanov, told RIA Novosti.
The results of the referendum will be announced at the end of voting, which will end on January 15.
The majority of Southern Sudanese belong to various culture and language tribes, however, most speak Arabic as do their Northern neighbors. The majority of Southerners are voting to gain independence.
Russian Senator Vladimir Zhidkikh, who has participated in over 20 electoral processes around the world, said it would be difficult to complain about the illegitimacy of the elections to the Sudanese governments as everything was well organized.
"The technology in holding the polls does not bring about any doubts, the participants in the referendum have a complete stack of accompanying documents [to the referendum], and the process of voting is clear to even those who cannot read or write," Zhidkikh said.
KHARTOUM, January 9 (RIA Novosti)
