Sudan president congratulates independent south

JUBA - Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir congratulated South Sudan on its independence on Saturday, speaking at a ceremony in the southern capital to mark the split from Sudan in the north.

"We congratulate our brothers in the south for the estabishment of their new state," said Bashir, addressing thousands of southerners attending the ceremony.

"The will of the people of the south has to be respected," he said.