UN threat ‘exacerbates the situation,’ says Sudan

A US-backed United Nations resolution threatening sanctions over the violence in Darfur will only make it harder for the government to calm an insurrection in the region, a Sudanese official said yesterday.

Despite his criticism, the foreign ministry official, Mutrif Sideeq, indicated his government would try to comply with the resolution meant to push it to rein in the Arab militia known as the Janjaweed.

“We in the government will go ahead in trying to bring the situation to normal in Darfur, regardless of what is being said about pressure being applied on the government,” Mr Sideeq told state-run radio Omdurman.