EU renews sanctions threat ahead of Khartoum visit

LUXEMBOURG, Oct 11 (AFP) — The European Union renewed Monday a threat of sanctions against Sudan to persuade it to clamp down on militias in the western Darfur region, ahead of a visit by the EU’s leadership to Khartoum.

Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot, whose country currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency, said he will travel to the Sudanese capital on Tuesday.

“The Sudanese government should continue to feel the pressure from as many sides as possible,” he told reporters after EU foreign ministers discussed the Darfur crisis at regular talks in Luxembourg.

“It is very important that the threat of sanctions be maintained,” he added.

Earlier this month the EU said it would wait for a green light from the United Nations before deciding whether to impose sanctions on the Sudanese government.

The Dutch EU presidency said the issue of sanctions would probably not be taken up in the EU before the UN Security Council debate on October 13.

“In the light of that discussion we will then see whether and if so which sanctions should or could be applied,” he said, adding that in the meantime “it is of course at the same time very important that we continue the dialogue with the government in Khartoum.”

At least 50,000 people have been killed in Darfur and 1.4 million people have fled their homes since two rebel movements rose up against the Khartoum government in February, 2003.

Khartoum’s response was to arm and support the Janjaweed, an Arab militia which has been accused of committing massive human rights abuses against Darfur’s black African people.

The Dutch minister, who plans to meet Sudan’s president and foreign minister Tuesday, said the situation in the Darfur region remains “mixed,” with civilians still at risk.

“We see no end to the persecution of these people .. it is very necessary that the government sticks to its promises,” he said.