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| Bush toughens sanctions on Sudan | Bush toughens sanctions on Sudan |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US President George W Bush has announced fresh sanctions against Sudan over the four-year Darfur conflict. | |
| Mr Bush said more Sudanese companies and individuals involved in the violence in Darfur would be barred from trading or banking with the US. | Mr Bush said more Sudanese companies and individuals involved in the violence in Darfur would be barred from trading or banking with the US. |
| He also said he would push for a new UN Security Council resolution to put more pressure on President Omar al-Bashir. | |
| More than 200,000 people have been killed in fighting between rebels and government-backed militias in Darfur. | More than 200,000 people have been killed in fighting between rebels and government-backed militias in Darfur. |
| "For too long the people of Darfur have suffered at the hands of a government that is complicit in the bombing, murder and rape of innocent civilians," Mr Bush said. | "For too long the people of Darfur have suffered at the hands of a government that is complicit in the bombing, murder and rape of innocent civilians," Mr Bush said. |
| "My administration has called these actions by their rightful name: genocide. | "My administration has called these actions by their rightful name: genocide. |
| SANCTIONS ON SUDAN 30 Sudanese firms targetedMostly firms in oil businessThree individuals listedBarred from US banking systemBarred from business with US class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/6156610.stm">Americans take up cause "We're targeting sanctions against individuals responsible for violence." | |
| It is unclear how much extra leverage the new US sanctions will bring, says BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus. | |
| Current US sanctions already mean Sudanese companies cannot use US dollars, making international trade more difficult. | |
| But the effects of these measures have been limited as China has become one of Sudan's major 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. | |
| 'Not timely' | |
| Even before Mr Bush spoke, China condemned the fresh US sanctions and said investing in Sudan was a better way to stop the violence. | |
| class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/3496731.stm">Q&A: Darfur crisis US officials said 30 companies controlled by the Sudanese government, mostly in the oil business, are now barred from the US banking system or from doing business with US firms or individuals. | |
| Another company suspected of shipping arms to Sudan has also been added to the sanctions list. | |
| Also targeted are three individuals, including a rebel leader, who are suspected of involvement in the violence in Darfur. | |
| The new US measures toughen existing sanctions imposed in 1997 and take effect immediately US government officials said. | |
| Before Mr Bush's announcement, Sudan condemned the expected measures: "I think these sanctions are not justified. It is not timely," Mutrif Siddig, a senior official in Sudan's foreign ministry, is quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. | Before Mr Bush's announcement, Sudan condemned the expected measures: "I think these sanctions are not justified. It is not timely," Mutrif Siddig, a senior official in Sudan's foreign ministry, is quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. |
| Arms ban | Arms ban |
| More than 200,000 people have been killed and about two million have fled their homes over the last four years amid fighting by government-backed Arab Janjaweed militias and rebel groups in Darfur. | |
| Mr Bush has directed Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to consult the UK and other countries to pursue new UN Security Council sanctions against Sudan. | |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Sudan needs sanctions that bite into the lives of the perpetrators in Khartoum Nyakairu, US Send us your comments | |
| He also called for Sudan to allow more international peacekeepers into Darfur. | He also called for Sudan to allow more international peacekeepers into Darfur. |
| "I call on President al-Bashir to stop his obstruction and to allow the peacekeepers in and to end the campaign of violence that continues to target innocent men, women and children," he said. | "I call on President al-Bashir to stop his obstruction and to allow the peacekeepers in and to end the campaign of violence that continues to target innocent men, women and children," he said. |
| Having given new UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon some space, President Bush's patience has now run out, our correspondent says. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |