UN sets deadline for Sudan action -- But it may never be enforced

The UN Security Council has warned the Sudan government that it must halt atrocities by Arab militias in the western Darfur region within 30 days. A US-drafted resolution demanding that Khartoum disarm the fighters was passed with two abstentions. The vote was only passed  after the United States deleted the provocative word "sanctions" from the resolution and substituted a reference to a provision in the U.N. charter that describes various forms of sanctions. No specific measures were identified to punish the Sudanese government. The resolution also placed a weapons embargo on armed groups in Darfur. Whether sanctions ever will be imposed is questionable. The United States and its European allies in the Security Council faced considerable opposition on the resolution and had to reword the sanctions threat to attract enough votes. However, many humanitarian organizations believe the resolution is far too mild.  [more] and  [more]

• Sudan Denounces Security Council Plan [more]