UNITED NATIONS, July 27 (UPI) -- The U.N. Security Council Tuesday discussed a revised U.S.-drafted resolution, threatening sanctions and an arms embargo, aimed at continuing pressure on the government of Sudan over the Darfur crisis.
It was expected to come to a vote Thursday or Friday. Some on the 15-member panel oppose a threat of sanctions.
"We had a good and constructive discussion this evening and we look forward to meeting at the ambassadorial level tomorrow (Wednesday) evening to finalize the resolution," Ambassador Stuart Holliday, alternate U.S. representative at the United Nations for Special Political Affairs, said after the initial discussion of the draft.
Ambassador Munir Akram of Pakistan, an opponent of sanctions from the first mention of them, said of the new draft, "It is better, but not the best."
Then, choosing his words carefully, he added: "I think the (draft) resolution is meant to put down some markers, and it is meant to generate help for the Sudanese people. I hope that the final resolution will be balanced and send the right message to all the right parties."
Ambassador Abdallah Baali of Algeria was hopeful differences could be overcome but only through deliberations, adding, "no one should have a monopoly on emotions or indignation."
The Khartoum-backed Arab nomad militia of traditional herders has been accused of attacking African farmers. The dispute arose from anger over land and water resources. Both sides are Muslim.
As many as 30,000 civilians, including many women and children, are dead, many of them from disease, 1 million-plus displaced and 2.2 million in need of food and medical aid.
On Monday, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir told United Press International in Khartoum that world pressure and military intervention would not solve the problem in the western region of Darfur.
Al-Bashir called for enough time to implement a joint plan with the United Nations to achieve security and stability in the troubled province.
"First, we have not backtracked on any commitment we made, and fulfilling promises for us is a matter of principle and a civilized practice deeply rooted in our tradition," said al-Bashir. "We do not need pressures or threats. ... Second, our commitment to our citizens in Darfur end the security crisis and achieve stability was valid from the beginning, before the commitments which were made later (to the international community)."
The council measure Tuesday calls on Khartoum to "disarm the Janjaweed militias and apprehend and bring to justice Janjaweed leaders and their associates who have incited and carried out human rights and international humanitarian law violations and other atrocities."
It doesn't go as far as the recent U.S. House of Representatives-passed measure which declared the attacks on civilians "genocide."
Monday, the 25-member European Union sought sanctions against Sudan if it doesn't keep promises made July 3 to deal with the militia.
The draft Security Council resolution asks U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to report in 30 days on the progress "or lack thereof by the government of Sudan on this matter" and every month afterwards. The measure says the panel would consider "further actions, including the imposition of sanctions" on Khartoum "in the event of non-compliance."
The Sudanese have said threats will not help the situation.
The measure also orders that, under Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter, "all states shall take the necessary measures to prevent the sale or supply, to all non-governmental entities and individuals, including the Janjaweed, operating in the states of North Darfur, South Darfur and West Darfur, by their nationals or from their territories ... of arms and related materiel of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment and spare parts."
The measure also calls on U.N. member states to prevent provisions getting from their nationals or territory to any "non-governmental entities and individuals" operating in the Darfur area -- or providing assistance to the militia.
However, it exempted supplies and related technical training and assistance for monitoring, verification or peace-support operations," including operations led by regional organizations, non-lethal military equipment for humanitarian use, human rights monitoring, and technical training and assistance as well as supplies of protective clothing for U.N. personnel, human rights monitors, media personnel and humanitarian development workers and associated personnel.
The African Union has authorized a force to monitor the situation in the west of Sudan, but it has not deployed.
Earlier Tuesday, in Sudan, an observer group of U.N. staff, Sudanese officials and representatives of concerned countries inspected a village where residents returned following an earlier attack by militiamen.
The group also visited the south Darfur town of Kass, where thousands of internally displaced persons have gathered to escape militia attacks and fighting between rebel groups and government forces.
U.N. spokeswoman Marie Okabe told reporters at U.N. World Headquarters the mission, which is monitoring whether the Sudanese government is meeting its commitments to disarm the Janjaweed and restore security to the region, will visit west Darfur Wednesday on the last day of its three-day trip.
Air drops of food were scheduled to begin next week in west Darfur, where the annual rainy season has made road transport almost impossible.
Humanitarian agencies say they remain extremely concerned about the lack of sanitation in the region.
This week's observer mission was organized as part of the Joint Implementation Mechanism, set up after the United Nations and Sudan signed a communiqué on July 3 outlining their commitments to alleviate what has been described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
(With reporting from Khartoum, Sudan, by Khalid Tigani.)
