US, UK threaten Sudan with sanctions over Darfur

Source: CCTV.com | 04-19-2007 15:20

The US has threatened Sudan with new sanctions unless it takes concrete action to meet its obligations over the Darfur crisis. But some members of the UN Security Council have cautioned this is not the right time to raise the threat of sanctions.

Also on Wednesday, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir said all of his country's problems had been created by western intelligence and organizations. He accused the US of launching a major plot to control Sudan's strategic position, and its natural resources like petroleum, natural gas and water. He also said the plotters intended to divide Africa into two parts, with northern Africa of Arab and Muslims, and southern Africa of blacks and Christians.

On Wednesday, US President George W. Bush threatened to tighten economic sanctions and impose new punishments, if Sudan failed to allow UN support forces and humanitarian aid to reach the people of Darfur.

Bush said, "If (Sudanese) President (Omar) Bashir does not meet his obligations, the United States of America will act."

Bush found an ally in London.

Tony Blair, British PM, said, "I hope that a very clear message goes to the Sudanese government today. We have waited and waited, we have tried diplomacy and negotiation again and again with the Sudanese government, but they have to get the message that the international community will not allow the scandal that is Darfur to continue."

But some members of the Security Council voiced opposition to the new sanctions being threatened by both the US and Britain. They said it was the wrong time to raise the possibility of new sanctions, because Sudan had just agreed to the first significant deployment of UN peacekeepers in Darfur. And the UN and the African Union are intensifying efforts to get the Khartoum government and all rebel groups to the peace table.

Editor:Du Xiaodan