Abyei, Sudan welcome UN-backed referendum in disputed region
The result of the vote in which 65,000 people had registered to take part in is expected on Oct. 31
A man collects his mosquito net near a polling station located in a school during a referendum in the town of Abyei
A man collects his mosquito net near a polling station located in a school during a referendum in the town of Abyei October 29, 2013. Tens of thousands of residents in the remote and disputed Abyei border region voted on Monday in a non-binding referendum on whether to join Sudan or South Sudan despite fears it could trigger violence. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic (ABYEI - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS ELECTIONS)
A woman prepares tea at an outdoor coffee shop near a polling station located in a school during a referendum in the town of Abyei
A woman prepares tea at an outdoor coffee shop near a polling station located in a school during a referendum in the town of Abyei October 29, 2013. Tens of thousands of residents in the remote and disputed Abyei border region voted on Monday in a non-binding referendum on whether to join Sudan or South Sudan despite fears it could trigger violence. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic (ABYEI - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS ELECTIONS FOOD TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)
A woman tastes tea in an outdoor coffee shop near a polling station located in a school during referendum in town of Abyei
A woman tastes tea in an outdoor coffee shop near a polling station located in a school during a referendum in the town of Abyei October 29, 2013. Tens of thousands of residents in the remote and disputed Abyei border region voted on Monday in a non-binding referendum on whether to join Sudan or South Sudan despite fears it could trigger violence.REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic (ABYEI - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS ELECTIONS FOOD)
A woman sits inside a mosquito tent near a polling station located in a school during a referendum in the town of Abyei
A woman sits inside a mosquito tent near a polling station located in a school during a referendum in the town of Abyei October 29, 2013. Tens of thousands of residents in the remote and disputed Abyei border region voted on Monday in a non-binding referendum on whether to join Sudan or South Sudan despite fears it could trigger violence.REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic (ABYEI - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS ELECTIONS)
People are seen in an abandoned house near a polling station located in a school, during a referendum in the town of Abyei
People are seen in an abandoned house near a polling station located in a school, during a referendum in the town of Abyei October 29, 2013. Tens of thousands of residents in the remote and disputed Abyei border region voted on Monday in a non-binding referendum on whether to join Sudan or South Sudan despite fears it could trigger violence. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic (ABYEI - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS ELECTIONS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)
A boy washes his face as a woman sits inside a mosquito tent near a polling station located in a school during referendum in town of Abyei
A boy washes his face as a woman sits inside a mosquito tent near a polling station located in a school during a referendum in the town of Abyei October 29, 2013. Tens of thousands of residents in the remote and disputed Abyei border region voted on Monday in a non-binding referendum on whether to join Sudan or South Sudan despite fears it could trigger violence. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic (ABYEI - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS ELECTIONS)
A woman and her child sits inside a mosquito tent near a polling station located in a school during a referendum in the town of Abyei
A woman and her child sits inside a mosquito tent near a polling station located in a school during a referendum in the town of Abyei October 29, 2013. Tens of thousands of residents in the remote and disputed Abyei border region voted on Monday in a non-binding referendum on whether to join Sudan or South Sudan despite fears it could trigger violence. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic (ABYEI - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS ELECTIONS)
A woman sits inside a mosquito tent near a polling station located in a school during a referendum in the town of Abyei
A woman sits inside a mosquito tent near a polling station located in a school during a referendum in the town of Abyei October 29, 2013. Tens of thousands of residents in the remote and disputed Abyei border region voted on Monday in a non-binding referendum on whether to join Sudan or South Sudan despite fears it could trigger violence. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic (ABYEI - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS ELECTIONS)