SUDAN: The UN Security Council meets later today to consider a new American-backed resolution on Darfur which will leave open the possibility of sanctions against Sudan if the Khartoum government does not stop the violence against the civilian population and allow an increased African Union monitoring force, writes Denis McClean in Geneva
Talks between the Sudanese government and rebel forces however ended in the Nigerian capital Abuja yesterday without agreement. The talks were aimed at ending a 19-month conflict in Darfur which has killed up to 50,000.
Sudan blamed the US. "Statements made by senior officials of the USA poisoned the talks environment and sent wrong signals to the rebels who immediately stiffened their positions," said Mr Najib Abdulwahab, Sudan's minister of state for foreign affairs.
But he said the two sides would reconvene after a period of one month to try and hammer out a deal on humanitarian and security issues.
Meanwhile, however, the UN will consider what to do. The chances of the Security Council resolution being passed have been boosted by support from the Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, who has said that if the resolution is passed he will establish an international commission to examine human rights violations and to determine if genocide has taken place in Darfur.
"It is urgent to take action now," he said.
A number of high profile missions to Darfur continue to keep the pressure on the Khartoum government. At the request of Mr Annan, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Louise Arbour, and his Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Mr Juan Méndez, arrive in Sudan today to make recommendations on what can be done to protect civilians in Darfur who have come under attack from the Arab Janjaweed militias.
The Irish Red Cross chairman, Mr David Andrews, and the Irish Red Cross secretary general, Ms Carmel Dunne, also leave today for Sudan. Mr Andrews likened his trip to "a journey into the heart of darkness" and criticised the slow pace of events at both EU and UN levels in responding to the situation on the ground.