South Sudan has been chosen as the name of what will be the world's newest country when it comes into existence on 9 July, ending months of speculation. Other suggested names had included Nile Republic and Cush, a reference to a Biblical-era kingdom in the area. The name decision was announced after a meeting of the top committee of the south's ruling SPLM party.The SPLM's Secretary General Pagan Amum said the decision, made by the party's politburo, will require approval by parliament. But reports say that is a formality as the SPLM holds the vast majority of seats in the assembly. Amum said the current pound currency would be replaced by a new currency, also to be called the pound. He said, negotiationsare under way with the north about how to go forward with the partition and he warned of the challenges ahead. Some 99 percent of southern Sudanese voted for independence from the north of Sudan in a referendum held in January. The referendum on independence for the oil-rich south was part of a deal to end decades of north-south conflict.