The UN envoy to Sudan urged the government to accept an international monitoring force with more than 3,000 troops to help prevent escalating militia attacks in the violence-wracked Darfur region.

The United Nations begins a three-day fact-finding mission in troubled Darfur today to establish whether the Sudanese government has fulfilled its pledges to improve security and rein in Arab militia accused of months of atrocities.

The UN special envoy to Sudan yesterday said he and Sudan's foreign minister had agreed a plan to tackle the humanitarian crisis in Darfur and avert UN sanctions.

Negotiators from 178 nations reached a deal to salvage a treaty on combating global warming following marathon negotiations that ended today, a UN spokesman announced.

Delegates trying to rescue the Kyoto Protocol on world climate change were continuing their talks today after marathon negotiations which went on through the night.