Annan says Sudan Hasn't Disarmed Militias; Contemplates Sending Troops

 Secretary General Kofi Annan said Wednesday that Sudan had failed to keep commitments to rein in militias terrorizing the Darfur region and that a large international force was required there as soon as possible."Attacks against civilians are continuing and the vast majority of armed militias has not been disarmed," Mr. Annan said in a report to the Security Council. "No concrete steps have been taken to bring to justice or even identify any of the militia leaders or perpetrators of these attacks, allowing the violations of human rights and the basic laws of war to continue in a climate of impunity." He said the United Nations continued to receive reports of the destruction of villages and many and of the raping and killing of people venturing forth from camps for displaced persons. In addition, he said, refugees reported coming under attack by government forces, sometimes from the air.To back up his recommendation of a stepped-up international presence "as quickly as possible,"  Its current complement is 380 military observers and troops, and diplomats say a force of up to 3,000 is being contemplated. [more ]