Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (R) is

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (R) is welcomed by southern leader Salva Kiir (L) at Juba International airport on January 4, 2010. Southerners are set to vote in a referendum on January 9 on whether to remain united with the north or break away and form their own country and the president told them in a speech in the southern capital that he would celebrate the result of this week's referendum on southern independence, "even if you choose secession."AFP PHOTO/YASUYOSHI CHIBA (Photo credit should read YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images)