Sudan's Bashir Retains Presidency

VOA News 

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has been declared the winner of the country's landmark presidential election.

Sudan's elections commission said Monday that Mr. Bashir won about 70 percent of the vote in the poll, which was part of Sudan's first multi-party elections in 24 years.

The commission said Salva Kiir won the vote for president of semi-autonomous southern Sudan.

President Bashir had been widely expected to win after two main challengers withdrew from the race, saying the ruling National Congress Party was preparing to rig the vote.

The president is the only sitting head of state wanted by the International Criminal Court. The court has indicted Mr. Bashir for alleged war crimes in Sudan's Darfur region.

Sudanese voters are also awaiting results from contests for parliament, state and local elections.

Observers have delivered a mixed assessment as to how well the elections were run. Sudan's ally China said they were smooth and orderly, and the African Union declared them "free and fair."

However, the United States, the European Union, and the U.S.-based Carter Center all said the elections fell short of international standards.

Witnesses reported numerous irregularities during the voting, including missing names on voter lists, confusing ballots, polling sites being moved without notice, and a shortage of voting materials.

The elections were a key part of the 2005 peace deal that ended the Sudanese civil war. That agreement calls for southern Sudan to hold a separate vote on full independence next year.