KHARTOUM, Jan 17 (Reuters) - South Sudan's independence referendum was credible and well-organised, European observers said in their first official judgment on the poll on Monday, moving the region a step closer to secession.
Early results from the week-long vote suggest an overwhelming vote to split away from the mostly Muslim north after decades of civil war.
"The European Union election observation mission assess the voting process of the Southern Sudan Referendum credible and well-organised in a mostly peaceful environment," a preliminary statement seen by Reuters said. (Reporting by Andrew Heavens; Editing by Louise Ireland)
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