Some churches, parishes and schools in northern Sudan are closing due to a large movement of people to the south after the independence referendum.

The head of the Sudan Council of Churches has backed a call for southerners to forgive northerners for the deaths and atrocities of the 21-year civil war.

Christians around the world are offering prayers for peace and justice as the Sudanese peace process reaches a key moment with the referendum this weekend.

A German church-backed human rights organisation wants action to save one of the world largest swamplands, threatened by oil extraction activities.