(Xinhua)

Sudan government partners, the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) on Tuesday affirmed desire to implement further development projects in south Sudan to make unity attractive in south Sudan referendum, set for January 2011.

Sudanese Vice-President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha and Vice- President of southern Sudan government Riek Machar on Tuesday inaugurated Maridi Dam, the first of its kind in south Sudan, which was implemented by the Chinese Sinahydro Corporation at a cost of over 5 million U.S. dollars.

The Dam, which lies some 3 km from Maridi town in Western Equatoria State, provides potable water for around 20,000 people, where the people used to travel for long distances to collect water.

"The federal government and the government of southern Sudan renew their continuing commitment to establish all the programs accompanying to the peace, and Maridi Dam project is the beginning in the process of rehabilitating the town," Taha said when addressing the inauguration ceremony of the Dam Tuesday.

"The federal government and the government of southern Sudan will participate with the southern Sudanese citizens in the implementation of the remaining projects, particularly the health and education projects and provision of clean water," he added.

He further stressed the importance of provision of security in south Sudan, saying that "we will not let anybody coming from outside to undermine our security," in reference to the Ugandan Lord Resistance Army (LRA) which is active in Western Equatoria State.

Vice-President of southern Sudan government Riek Machar, for his part, described Maridi Dam as one of the projects for supporting the voluntary unity between north and south Sudan.

He further pledged that the government of south Sudan would complete the remaining development projects in the region.