UNITED NATIONS, April 25 (UPI) -- The U.N. Security Council has imposed sanctions on four Sudanese in a move to press for a peace agreement in embattled Darfur.
The panel Friday voted 12-0, with abstentions by China, Russia and Qatar, to impose in 30 days a travel ban and asset freeze on the four under the U.N. Charter's Chapter VII, making it mandatory for all states to comply.
Named were Maj. Gen. Gaffar Mohamed Elhassan, commander of the Western Military Region for the Sudanese Air Force; Sheikh Musa Hilal, paramount chief of the Halus Tribe in North Darfur; Adam Yacub Shant, Sudanese Liberation Army commander; and Gabril Abdul Kareem Badri, National Movement for Reform and Development field commander.
"We believe that this vote today constituted an important first step in the Security Council fulfilling its responsibilities under the several resolutions respecting Darfur that it has adopted," said U.S. Ambassador John Bolton, adding the measure "demonstrates that the Security Council is serious in its effort to restore peace and security in the region."
Far from interfering in the Darfur peace process in Abuja Nigeria, he said, "it will strengthen that process."
China, which buys a considerable amount of Sudan's oil, said it abstained from the vote citing its opposition to sanctions in general.
Russia said it withheld support because the present rounds of peace negotiations up to April 30 should be signed by Sudan and implementation of the resolution "might have a negative impact on concluding a peace agreement."
