SUDAN:The US and others will consider imposing punitive measures on Sudan for its refusal to allow an international force into the devastated Darfur region, the State Department said yesterday.
State Department spokesman Tom Casey said Washington was increasingly impatient over what he called Sudan's "delaying tactics" over sending a joint African Union-United Nations force into Darfur.
Sudanese president Omar Hassan al-Bashir sent a letter to the UN this month arguing in detail against UN plans to bolster under-financed AU military monitors.
"To the extent that Sudan continues to frustrate implementation of this agreement, the US and other members of the international community are going to have to think seriously about implementing additional measures to deal with the humanitarian crisis in Darfur," said Mr Casey. "It is clear our patience is limited."
Mr Casey declined to say what the measures would be but US officials in the past have indicated they could include a range of financial measures against Sudan's government.
Britain said it wanted the Security Council to extend UN sanctions against Sudan.
Britain's UN ambassador Emyr Jones Parry said: "I would put down a resolution on sanctions next week . . . that I would expect to get . . . adopted."
The sanctions, which the European Union has already advocated, could include broadening a proposed no-fly zone over Darfur to an arms embargo and adding to the list of four people subject to an assets freeze and travel ban.
In his letter, to be discussed at a UN council lunch tomorrow with Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon, Mr al-Bashir said he wanted to restrict UN movements in Darfur, limit overflights or attack helicopters and would bar international police from government controlled zones and other areas.
A United Nations human rights mission report accused Sudan's government of orchestrating gross violations in Darfur, a claim Khartoum called invalid.- ( Reuters )