By Jason Benham and Jeremy Clarke

JUBA, Sudan, Jan 19 (Reuters) - South Sudanese have voted
overwhelmingly to declare independence from the north in a
referendum held last week, according to early figures and a
Reuters survey of officials in nine of the region's 10 states.

Referendum officials reported on Wednesday that votes to
secede approached 99 percent in some southern states and
disapora communities in Egypt, Ethiopia and Kenya.

Southern leaders have urged people from the oil-producing
territory to wait until official figures due in early February
before celebrating, for fear of antagonising the north.

The figures are in line with expectations for the
plebiscite, the climax of a 2005 peace deal that ended decades
of north-south civil war.

Referendum officials told Reuters of large votes in favour
of independence in the southern states of Central Equatoria,
Unity, Lakes, Jonglei, Warrap, Western Bahr al-Ghazal, Northern
Bahr al-Ghazal, Eastern Equatoria and Upper Nile.

Central Equatoria state, a territory that includes the
southern capital Juba, reported 449,290 votes for separation and
just 4,985 votes for unity.

Campaign banners in Juba described the vote as a "last march
to freedom" after decades of war and perceived northern
oppression. International observers this week said the vote was
credible, removing another possible hurdle.

IN FAVOUR OF INDEPENDENCE

A total of 153,839 people voted for independence in Western
Bahr al-Ghazal state, against 7,237 for continued unity with the
north, the state's committee chairman Wol Madut Chan told
Reuters.

Western Bahr al-Ghazal lies on the south's border with the
north, neighbouring the strife-torn Darfur region. Its figures
amounted to a 95 percent vote for separation, once spoilt and
unmarked ballots were included.

In Lakes State, referendum committee chairman Michael Mabor
Makuel Awur said preliminary figures were 227 people for
continued unity with the north against 298,216 for separation --
or more than 99 percent.

Referendum officials in Eastern Equatoria and Upper Nile
states said they were also heading towards a 99 percent vote for
separation. Warrap, Northern Bahr al-Ghazal and Jonglei states
released incomplete figures showing similar majorities.

Michael Moyil Chol, the chair of the referendum committee
for oil-producing Unity state, which also borders the north,
said: "So far it looks like more than 80 percent are in favour
of independence."

Officials did not release figures or give any indications in
the state of Western Equatoria.