South Sudan becomes world's 193rd country

Juba: South Sudan has become the world's newest nation -- 193rd country recognised by the UN and the 54th UN member state in Africa -- after a peace deal that ended a long and bloody civil war, BBC reported Saturday.

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon were among international dignitaries attending the celebrations in the capital, Juba.

Sudan earlier became the first state to officially recognise its new neighbour.

The south's independence follows decades of conflict with the north in which some 1.5 million people died.

The BBC's Will Ross in Juba said the new country's problems were put aside for the night Friday amid an air of great jubilation.

People were in the streets, cheering, waving South Sudan flags, banging drums and chanting the name of President Salva Kiir Mayardit, he added.