The U.S President Encourages Regional Leaders to Back Peaceful Referendum in Sudan

White House -- The U.S. President Barack Obama has  been sent letters to regional leaders in Africa urging them to support a peaceful independence referendum in south Sudan next month.

National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer said Sunday that Mr. Obama made it clear a successful vote in Sudan is one of his top priorities and the best way to prevent a new war between the north and south.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir said Sunday that the country will adopt an Islamic constitution and that Arabic will be the official language if the south votes for independence.

Mr. Bashir's aide Nafie Ali Nafie said last week the country almost certainly split into two part. It was the first time a top northern official has acknowledged the south will likely secede.

The referendum is a key part of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended Sudan's 21-year north-south civil war.

Tension between the north and the south has been rising ahead of the vote with disputes about oil revenue, borders, and other issues unresolved.