国际英语新闻:UN Security Council Votes to Bolster South Sudan

“The council settled on a sizeable force and believes that this will help the necessities and the challenges of this new state of South Sudan," he said.

South Sudan’s independence follows a 21-year civil war in Sudan that ended in 2005. Early this year, voters in southern Sudan overwhelmingly approved separating from northern Sudan.

There are continuing sources of conflict, including fighting in the Sudanese-controlled area of South Kordofan and a flashpoint in the border area of Abyei. Troops from Sudan raided the area several weeks ago, forcing out thousands of southerners.

However, last month, Sudan and South Sudan reached agreement on the status of the disputed border region and called for its demilitarization. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, during a visit to Khartoum, Sudan, said that as the U.N. prepares to deploy Ethiopian troops to Abyei, the parties must make the political compromises necessary to finally resolve this question.

Mr. Ban will be in Juba, South Sudan, for the independence ceremony. He told reporters in Khartoum that he had urged the Sudanese government “one last time” to extend the mandate of the U.N. Mission in Sudan, which expires Saturday. The Sudanese government wants the troops out. The secretary-general wants them to stay, at least, he said, until the situation calms down.

Council president Wittig has said he expects quick approval of United Nations membership for South Sudan, once it formally becomes independent. A vote in favor by the U.N. General Assembly would make South Sudan the 193rd member of the United Nations.