UK, US call for sanctions against 4 Sudanese over Darfur

AP report says the UK and the US called for sanctions Wednesday against four Sudanese who have blocked peace efforts and violated human rights in Darfur. But Russia said it wants to study the list, warning that it could aggravate the fragile peace process. Excerpt:

Britain sent the list to the chairman of the Security Council committee in charge of sanctions against Sudan. Under council rules, if no country objects in 48 hours, the sanctions will take effect but because of the Easter Holiday the objection period has been extended until Monday.

Since freezing financial assets are involved, the UK's UN Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry said, the names won't be disclosed until the sanctions take effect, hopefully on Monday. If the sanctions are approved, they will be the first against any participants in the Darfur conflict.

"What we're going to do today is the start of a process," Jones Parry said. "I join with ... the United States in putting forward today four names representing a balanced package."

Other council members, including Argentina, Denmark, France, Japan, Peru and Slovakia, also support the list, council diplomats said. (ST/AP)