Egypt deputy PM to attend s. Sudan independence

Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister Yehia al-Gamal will lead an Egyptian delegation to Juba for the independence ceremony of the new Republic of South Sudan, the foreign ministry said on Friday. Gamal "will present Egypt's official letter of recognition of the state of South Sudan" during Saturday's ceremony, a ministry statement said. The creation of South Sudan has been achieved thanks to the "will of the northern and southern brothers and their commitment to implementing a peace deal," said Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Oraby who will accompany Gamal to Juba. Oraby said that during the visit, the Egyptian delegation will discuss the "steps to open an embassy and appoint an Egyptian ambassador to South Sudan." The 2005 peace agreement that ended the devastating 22-year conflict between north and south Sudan paved the way for an independence referendum in January, in which southerners voted almost unanimously to secede.