By James Bone
China and Russia last night thwarted a year-long diplomatic drive by Britain to impose United Nations sanctions on the perpetrators in of the violence in the Darfur province of Sudan.
The two powers, joined by Qatar, used their position on a UN sanctions committee to block the imposition of a UN travel ban and asset freeze on four unnamed Sudanese, including one government official, proposed by Britain.
The United States, which backed the British initiative, reacted angrily by threatening to call a public vote of the 15-nation Security Council that would force Russia and China into making a formal veto.
“This will be a test for the council to see if the sanctions procedure is going to work at all,” John Bolton, the US Ambassador, said.
The Security Council voted a year ago to impose sanctions on individuals responsible for the violence in Darfur, where Janjaweed Arab militia have made two million black villagers homeless since 2003.
The effort languished over fears that separate peace talks on Darfur would be affected.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2138685,00.html
China and Russia last night thwarted a year-long diplomatic drive by Britain to impose United Nations sanctions on the perpetrators in of the violence in the Darfur province of Sudan.
The two powers, joined by Qatar, used their position on a UN sanctions committee to block the imposition of a UN travel ban and asset freeze on four unnamed Sudanese, including one government official, proposed by Britain.
The United States, which backed the British initiative, reacted angrily by threatening to call a public vote of the 15-nation Security Council that would force Russia and China into making a formal veto.
“This will be a test for the council to see if the sanctions procedure is going to work at all,” John Bolton, the US Ambassador, said.
The Security Council voted a year ago to impose sanctions on individuals responsible for the violence in Darfur, where Janjaweed Arab militia have made two million black villagers homeless since 2003.
The effort languished over fears that separate peace talks on Darfur would be affected.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2138685,00.html
