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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| US to toughen sanctions on Sudan | US to toughen sanctions on Sudan |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The United States is set to impose fresh sanctions on Sudan over the conflict in Darfur, US officials say. | |
| It will also push for a stronger UN Security Council resolution punishing Khartoum over the ongoing violence, singling out President Omar al-Bashir. | It will also push for a stronger UN Security Council resolution punishing Khartoum over the ongoing violence, singling out President Omar al-Bashir. |
| US President George W Bush will announce the move at the White House at 0800 (1200 GMT), the officials said. | |
| Washington will ban more companies from US trade and crack down on individuals suspected of violence in Darfur. | Washington will ban more companies from US trade and crack down on individuals suspected of violence in Darfur. |
| It will also toughen existing sanctions imposed in 1997. | It will also toughen existing sanctions imposed in 1997. |
| President Bashir's actions over the past few weeks follow a long pattern of promising co-operation while finding new methods of obstruction George W BushDraft speech on Sudan | President Bashir's actions over the past few weeks follow a long pattern of promising co-operation while finding new methods of obstruction George W BushDraft speech on Sudan |
| The strengthened measures will take effect on Tuesday, US government officials said, targeting mainly companies in the oil industry. | The strengthened measures will take effect on Tuesday, US government officials said, targeting mainly companies in the oil industry. |
| More than 200,000 people have been killed and about two million have fled their homes amid fighting by government-backed Arab Janjaweed militias and rebel groups in Darfur. | More than 200,000 people have been killed and about two million have fled their homes amid fighting by government-backed Arab Janjaweed militias and rebel groups in Darfur. |
| Arms ban | Arms ban |
| The US and Britain are pushing for the UN to impose new financial sanctions against Sudan and at least three individuals, as well as to ban arms sales to the Sudanese government. | The US and Britain are pushing for the UN to impose new financial sanctions against Sudan and at least three individuals, as well as to ban arms sales to the Sudanese government. |
| It is also pushing for the UN to ban Sudanese military flights over Darfur. | It is also pushing for the UN to ban Sudanese military flights over Darfur. |
| Q&A: Darfur crisis | Q&A: Darfur crisis |
| "President Bashir's actions over the past few weeks follow a long pattern of promising co-operation while finding new methods of obstruction," Mr Bush will say, according to a draft of the speech. | "President Bashir's actions over the past few weeks follow a long pattern of promising co-operation while finding new methods of obstruction," Mr Bush will say, according to a draft of the speech. |
| The UN is stepping up pressure on Sudan's government to end the conflict, which has devastated the western Sudanese region since 2003. | The UN is stepping up pressure on Sudan's government to end the conflict, which has devastated the western Sudanese region since 2003. |
| On Friday, the Security Council endorsed proposals to let a combined UN-African Union peacekeeping force protect civilians and use force to prevent violence. | |
| The officials said they had not yet secured agreement from China on the issue. | The officials said they had not yet secured agreement from China on the issue. |
| China - which wields a veto on the UN Security Council - has opposed plans to use sanctions to force Mr Bashir to accept a UN peacekeeping force. | |
| "I would say with regard to the Chinese we don't have a specific commitment," the US official said. "Obviously we will work with them on the specifics of a resolution." | "I would say with regard to the Chinese we don't have a specific commitment," the US official said. "Obviously we will work with them on the specifics of a resolution." |
| Beijing is now one of Sudan's main investors and trading partners, supplying arms to Sudan and buying more than half of its oil. | |
| It has also spent millions of dollars investing in Sudan's oil infrastructure. |