Canada welcomes UN resolution on Darfur

OTTAWA, July 30 (AFP) — Canada welcomed a UN Security Council resolution giving Sudan 30 days to rein in militias carrying out atrocities in the Darfur region or face international action.

“The Security Council has sent a clear message with this resolution that it is prepared to take action to end the crisis in Darfur and to protect civilians so terribly affected by the conflict,” said Foreign Minister Pierre Pettigrew.

Canada “is pleased that the resolution calls on the government of Sudan to disarm the militias,” he said in a statement.

“We welcome the intent of the Security Council to consider further actions under Article 41 of the UN Charter, which allows for sanctions, if the government of Sudan does not follow through on its commitments.”

Thirteen members of the 15-nation council backed the resolution aimed at stepping up pressure over what the United Nations has called the world’s worst current humanitarian crisis. China and Pakistan abstained.

The resolution was drawn up by the United States, which dropped the word “sanctions” in a bid to win support for the text, which has been under intense negotiation for several days.