Counting starts in first Sudan census

Khartoum: Residents of Sudan were told to stay at home to be counted as the country began work on its first census on Tuesday.

Sudanese president Omar Hassan Al Bashir will be the first to be counted at midnight.

The count will help to determine the distribution of wealth and power and to set constituencies before Sudan's first democratic elections in 23 years due next year.

The census will continue for two weeks with final results not expected before September.