Newest nation hoists its colors

Submitted by stevenr on Mon, Jul 11, 2011 - 11:35am
South Sudan has hoisted its national flag after declaring independence and becoming the world's newest sovereign state.

The South Sudanese parliament speaker read out the formal declaration of independence for the Republic of South Sudan, the final step that followed decades of war between the north and south.

The declaration of independence affirmed the new state's democratic and multi-ethnic and multi-confessional character, and its commitment to friendly relations with all countries "including the Republic of Sudan".

South Sudan's Salva Kiir was sworn in as president.