The United States has drafted a new UN resolution threatening oil sanctions against Sudan if Khartoum faisl to stop abuses in the region of Darfur.
The resoultion to be voted on by the Security Council also insists on an expanded African Union monitoring force with more powers and the disarming of the pro-Government Janjaweed militia terrorising around two million in ethnic conflict.
The resolution also wants members of the militia to be arrested and tried.
The resolution does not give a date for when Sudan mustcomply, although diplomats said this might be added during negotiations with council members. It says Secretary-General Kofi Annan should report back in 30 days.
The Security Council threatened on July 30th to consider imposing unspecified sanctions on Sudan if it failed to disarm and prosecute the Janjaweed.
The new resolution again threatens punitive measures including moves "with regard to the petroleum sector".
Sudan is now producing about 320,000 barrels per day (bpd) from its southern oil fields, and from September 15th an extra 12,000 bpd will reach the refinery in Khartoum from another southern field, Oil Minister Awad Ahmed al-Jaz said last month.