Thousands go to polls in Sudan independence referendum

Southern Sudanese women queue to cast their votes in Juba Photograph: Jerome Delay/AP

Women wait outside a heavily-guarded polling station in Juba Photograph: Phil Moore/AFP/Getty Images

The actor George Clooney with President Salva Kiir Mayardit left during the independence referendum Photograph: Mohamed Messara/EPA

A southern Sudanese man outside a polling station in Juba Photograph: Mohamed Messara/EPA

An official at a polling station in Nairobi shows a ballot paper to a southern Sudanese man living in Kenya Photograph: Simon Maina/AFP/Getty Images

A southern Sudanese woman complains to a policeman about crowding outside a polling station in the southern town of Bentiu Photograph: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images

Mayardit leaves a stadium after casting his vote on the first day of voting in Juba Photograph: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Large queues build up outside a polling station in Juba Photograph: Mohamed Messara/EPA

A woman votes in a polling station in Haj Yousef, on the outskirts of the capital, Khartoum Photograph: Nasser Nasser/AP

Southern Sudanese men waveflags and dance outside a polling station in Juba Photograph: Phil Moore/AFP/Getty Images

A southern Sudanese police officer on guard outside a polling station in Juba Photograph: Pete Muller/AP

A southern Sudanese voter shows his inked thumb after marking his ballot paper during voting in Juba Photograph: Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images

Southern Sudanese in Juba, fearing violence in the north of the country following the referendum, move their belongings after arriving from the north Photograph: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Southern Sudanese soldiers guard the tomb of the late southern leader Dr John Garang in Juba. The grounds of the tomb have been used as a polling station Photograph: Pete Muller/AP

Southern Sudanese returning from Khartoum arrive at the main port in the southern capital of Juba Photograph: Pete Muller/AP