Manama: A Sudanese family has named their first baby son "Referendum" in reference to the southern Sudan's independence referendum due to begin on Sunday.
"The name is part of the latest political developments, even though I am truly neutral on the upcoming referendum," Ez Eddeen Abkar Mohammad, the father, said.
"My only concern is that peace and peaceful co-existence prevail among the various components of the country," he said, quoted by Sudanese daily Ahram Al Yawm.
The family wants Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir and Salva Kiir Mayardit, the south Sudan leader who looks set to become the first president of Africa's newest country in 2011, to attend the traditional ceremony to welcome the baby boy.
The father said that the family who now lives in the Mayo suburbs of Khartoum, the capital, had moved 12 years ago from Darfur.
"We have come here from Abu Sorouj in Darfur, and we have no political affiliations. All we want is to have stability so that the country can develop further," he said.
The Sudan referendum is part of a peace deal reached by north and south Sudan in 2005 and which included allowing southern Sudanese to vote for either seceding or remaining part of a united country.
Last month, an excited Qatari family named their daughter "Fifa", in reference to the world football governing body after Qatar was selected to host the 2022 World Cup finals.
"My husband and I decided six months ago to name our daughter Dana. However, when I was in labour, I heard that Qatar was picked to host the World Cup finals, so my husband and I decided to name her Fifa," said the baby girl's mother.
