Oil-rich South Sudan today became the world's newest country, splitting away from Khartoum-ruled north after decades of brutal war that claimed some two million lives. Glorious celebration of the long-awaited independence began in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, at midnight last night local time. Frenzied people poured into the city streets, dancing, banging drums, waving flags and chanting the name of Salva Kiir Mayardit, the President of the new nation.As a countdown clock in the city centre reached zero, the new national anthem of South Sudan, which became the 193rd country in the world and 54th UN member state in Africa, was played on television, marking the culmination of the January independence referendum.A host of foreign dignitaries, including India’s Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, are attending celebrations in Juba. New Delhi has recently pledged $5-million development assistance to South Sudan for capacity building projects such as vocational training centres and rural technology parks.Talking to newspersons on board the special aircraft, Vice-President Ansari said the African countries would gain from India's experience.Mr. Ansari said India's presence at the historic occasion in Juba, reflected its age-old ties with Sudan in particular and Africa as a whole.Sudan on Friday extended official recognition to South Sudan, calling it an independent state. Minister of Presidential Affairs Bakri Hassan Saleh said in a statement broadcast on state television, ‘The Republic of Sudan announces that it recognises the Republic of South Sudan as an independent state, according to the borders existing on January 1, 1956.’He said the Government of Sudan was committed to implementing the comprehensive peace agreement and to resolving all the post- referendum issues.Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today greeted the people and government of South Sudan on the occasion of declaration of its independence. In a letter to the president of South Sudan, General Salva Kiir Mayardit, Dr Singh applauded the new nation’s commitment to addressing all outstanding issues with North Sudan in an amicable and peaceful manner. According to a PMO statement, Dr Singh said, the declaration of independence marks the successful conclusion of important landmarks spelt out in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005, particularly the peaceful conduct of the referendum. He said, he is confident that India's cooperation with South Sudan will grow from strength to strength in the coming days for the mutual benefit of our people. Vice-President Hamid Ansari is already in capital Juba to take part in celebrations of the historic occasion.