The West: "Things are surprisingly going well in Sudan ..."

"..."Things are going, surprisingly, in a positive direction. There is an expectation that the transition to a new state won't be as difficult as was imagined," a Western official based in Southern Sudan said in a phone interview on the condition of anonymity.

Sudanese President Omar Bashir, who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes for atrocities in the western province of Darfur, is facing growing criticism from northerners who blame him for the likely loss of the south.

Legally, Southern Sudan cannot make a declaration of independence until July. Post-referendum issues, including border demarcation, oil revenue-sharing, currency and citizenship, are to be settled after the vote.

Western officials and analysts say the biggest flash point is the oil-rich province of Abyei. Under the CPA, a second referendum to decide whether Abyei would go with the south if it secedes also was to be held this week. ..."