Blair sanctions threat on Darfur

Tony Blair promised "tougher action" against the Sudanese government and rebels yesterday if they failed to act to end the crisis in Darfur.

The Prime Minister spoke out ahead of an international day of action on Sunday which will include a demonstration outside Downing Street.

Britain and the US said they would propose fresh sanctions against the regime last week in a bid to increase the pressure for an end to the fighting.

And Mr Blair said that if it failed to act, "it is our intention to make sure that this UN Security Council Resolution is tabled and voted upon".

Khartoum has reacted angrily to the threat, but Mr Blair said what was happening in Sudan "is unacceptable, is appalling and is a scandal for the international community".

"There are 200,000 people that have died, there are two million people that have been displaced, there are four million people on food aid," he said in a statement.

"More fighting in recent days further threatens the already fragile situation. The Sudanese Armed Forces bombing raids in North Darfur between April 19 and 21, against a school, houses and shops, resulting in a number of civilian injuries and deaths, is shocking and the latest example of President Bashir's flouting of his international obligations in several UNSC resolutions.

"The Sudanese government and rebel groups must immediately implement the commitments they have made to the international community including the deployment of the UN/AU hybrid force, resumption of peace talks, disarming the Janjaweed, immediate cessation of violence and upholding humanitarian agreements made with the UN.

"If they do not, the UK and its partners will take tougher action in the Security Council to target those responsible for the violence, to further restrict access to weapons and to improve monitoring of air flights."

He said the Sudanese government and President Bashir could stop the threat of fresh sanctions "by doing those things that they should have been doing a long time ago".

"But if they don't act it is our intention to make sure that this UN Security Council Resolution is tabled and voted upon," he warned.

Liberal Democrat spokeswoman Lynne Featherstone said: "It is clear that what we are witnessing in Darfur is genocide.

"The British Government and the international community cannot continue to watch as this catastrophe unfolds in front of them.

"A no-fly zone, a proper and extensive arms embargo, targeted travel bans and asset seizures as well as meaningful sanctions are all essential yet the Government has so far done nothing.

"What will it take before this country takes the effective action that is so desperately needed?"

Britain will face a serious battle to get the sanctions imposed after Russia and China - both veto-wielding Security Council members - signalled their opposition.

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