US to slap new sanctions on Sudan

Washington, May 29: The United States plans to announce tough new sanctions against Sudan today before working out a resolution in the United Nations in an effort to end the bloodshed in Darfur.

President George W. Bush will announce the sanctions in a speech, imposing unilateral punitive action against 31 companies and four individuals.

''(Sudanese) President Bashir's actions over the past few weeks follow a long pattern of promising cooperation while finding new methods of obstruction,'' Bush will say, according to a draft of his speech.

The new US action is being launched in parallel to a broader effort by United Nations officials to pressure Sudan's government to end the violence that has devastated Darfur since 2003.

Fighting by government-backed militias and rebel groups in the Darfur region of western Sudan has killed more than 200,000 people and driven about 2 million from their homes.

In 2004, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution calling on Sudan to end the attacks. But Bush and other top US officials have grown increasingly impatient with Sudan President's Omar Hassan al-Bashir's reluctance to stop attacks by Arab militias widely believed to be supported by the government.

Bashir also stalled for months in accepting UN peacekeeping support packages to the African Union of 7,000, a prelude to a large force of more than 23,000 troops and police.

He received plans for that force only last week but has said the number of military personnel was far too large.

New US sanctions against Sudan would extend those implemented in 1997 and be aimed mostly at companies owned or controlled by the Sudanese government. One other company is believed to be violating an arms embargo for Darfur and will also be banned from doing business in the United States or having access to its financial system.

The companies targeted will include firms in the oil and petroleum export-related businesses, all of which are crucial to Sudan's economy. They are all expected to be named.

The four individuals to be affected include senior Sudanese government officials and rebel leaders.

''This will be the first time we are taking such an action ahead of the United Nations,'' said a senior administration official about the sanctions against the individuals. The UN Security Council last year imposed sanctions on four mid-level individuals.

At the United Nations, the United States and Britain are considering drafting a resolution that would impose an arms embargo on all of Sudan, not just Darfur, increase the number of individuals subject to sanctions and monitor at airports in Sudan, preferably by the African Union to determine who is breaking previous council resolutions on offensive military flights.

Delay In Sanctions

Last month Bush vowed to hold off imposing new sanctions against Sudan to give the United Nations more time to negotiate with Khartoum over accepting a peacekeeping force in Darfur.

''The President believes we cannot wait any longer for the violence to stop and the people of Sudan to be given what they need,'' the US official said.

But he said Washington would then turn to working on an acceptable resolution on Darfur with the UN Security Council.

''We're in constant dialogue with a number of the Security Counsel members,'' the official said. ''I would say with regard to the Chinese we don't have a specific commitment. Obviously we will work with them on the specifics of a resolution.'' The Security Council last Friday endorsed proposals for the large Darfur peacekeeping force to protect civilians and use force to deter violence.

The force will also monitor compliance with the Darfur Peace Agreement signed in May 2006 with the Khartoum government and one rebel group that still has not been implemented.

Sudan halted bombing raids at the start of the year, but last month its air force hit three towns in North Darfur and prevented a meeting of rebel commanders that it had allowed to take place.

According to the senior Bush administration official, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has been informed of Washington's latest unilateral steps.

''We think it's important to lead on this effort,'' the American official said.

Reuters>