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| Sudan dismisses Darfur 'threats' | Sudan dismisses Darfur 'threats' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Sudan has dismissed pressure from the US and the UK to take tough action if it continues to block the deployment of a UN peacekeeping force. | Sudan has dismissed pressure from the US and the UK to take tough action if it continues to block the deployment of a UN peacekeeping force. |
| Foreign Minister Lam Akol told the BBC that "threats, blockades and no-fly zones... would not solve the problem" but would increase suffering in Darfur. | Foreign Minister Lam Akol told the BBC that "threats, blockades and no-fly zones... would not solve the problem" but would increase suffering in Darfur. |
| The US says it might take up "other options" in Darfur, while the UK has mentioned a no-fly zone. | The US says it might take up "other options" in Darfur, while the UK has mentioned a no-fly zone. |
| Some 200,000 people have died in Darfur since 2003, the UN says. | Some 200,000 people have died in Darfur since 2003, the UN says. |
| The violence has intensified in recent months despite the presence of some 7,000 African Union peacekeepers. | The violence has intensified in recent months despite the presence of some 7,000 African Union peacekeepers. |
| But Sudan rejects plans for the United Nations to take control and increase the number of peacekeepers to 20,000. | But Sudan rejects plans for the United Nations to take control and increase the number of peacekeepers to 20,000. |
| Meanwhile, the UN Human Rights Council has agreed to send a team to investigate abuses. | Meanwhile, the UN Human Rights Council has agreed to send a team to investigate abuses. |
| href="/1/hi/entertainment/6179055.stm" class="">Clooney lobbies on Darfur Q&A: Peacekeeping in Darfur | |
| But the world's top human rights body has refrained from criticising Sudan's government over the violence. | But the world's top human rights body has refrained from criticising Sudan's government over the violence. |
| A spokesman for British Prime Minister Tony Blair, said the UK would agree to a UN-sanctioned "plan B" to impose a no-fly zone in the region. | A spokesman for British Prime Minister Tony Blair, said the UK would agree to a UN-sanctioned "plan B" to impose a no-fly zone in the region. |
| A UN resolution was passed last year banning military flights over Darfur but this has not been enforced. | A UN resolution was passed last year banning military flights over Darfur but this has not been enforced. |
| The issue was raised at a meeting between US President George W Bush and Mr Blair in Washington last week. | The issue was raised at a meeting between US President George W Bush and Mr Blair in Washington last week. |
| US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said: "We have to start thinking of other ideas on how to protect the people" from the violence in Darfur. | US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said: "We have to start thinking of other ideas on how to protect the people" from the violence in Darfur. |
| Referring to the no-fly zone, he said, "Prime Minister Blair talked about it as an idea," but Mr McCormack refused to give further details. | Referring to the no-fly zone, he said, "Prime Minister Blair talked about it as an idea," but Mr McCormack refused to give further details. |
| The BBC State Department correspondent says other options could include a naval blockade or targeted air strikes against Sudan, but that these would need the backing of the UN Security Council. | The BBC State Department correspondent says other options could include a naval blockade or targeted air strikes against Sudan, but that these would need the backing of the UN Security Council. |
| Our correspondent says until now some council members, such as China, have shown little enthusiasm for increasing pressure on Sudan over Darfur. | Our correspondent says until now some council members, such as China, have shown little enthusiasm for increasing pressure on Sudan over Darfur. |
| Growing urgency | Growing urgency |
| Meanwhile, President Bush's special envoy to Darfur, Andrew Natsios, has just visited Khartoum for talks with Sudan President Omar al-Bashir. | Meanwhile, President Bush's special envoy to Darfur, Andrew Natsios, has just visited Khartoum for talks with Sudan President Omar al-Bashir. |
| However, the BBC's correspondent says that, while Mr Natsios said the talks had been productive, there is still no sign that Sudan's government will agree to a UN force. | However, the BBC's correspondent says that, while Mr Natsios said the talks had been productive, there is still no sign that Sudan's government will agree to a UN force. |
| There is a growing sense of frustration and urgency in Washington over the situation in Darfur, he says. | There is a growing sense of frustration and urgency in Washington over the situation in Darfur, he says. |
| Sudan has agreed to let the UN provide logistical support to a larger AU force, but refuses to allow UN troops into Darfur. | Sudan has agreed to let the UN provide logistical support to a larger AU force, but refuses to allow UN troops into Darfur. |
| The human rights council cannot force Sudan to accept UN peacekeeping troops. | The human rights council cannot force Sudan to accept UN peacekeeping troops. |
| But human rights groups say a resolution sending the UN's top human rights experts to Darfur to investigate would have moral authority. | But human rights groups say a resolution sending the UN's top human rights experts to Darfur to investigate would have moral authority. |