Sudan appoints head of the referendum commission

In Sudan, a key stumbling block in the progress of holding the referendum on potential independence for the South has been cleared.

A Secretary General of the commission to run the historic vote due in January has been appointed.

Negotiations between the leaders of former civil war enemies in north and south had been in deadlock over the post.

The impasse prevented the commission from preparing the work on the referendum due in January - including the already long-delayed voter registration.

BBC Focus on Africa's Peter Martell reports from the southern capital Juba.