An expert team lead by UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Sudan, Jan Pronk, witnessed the hand-over of weapons by some 200 members of the People's Defense Force affiliated with the Sudanese government, a UN spokesman said here Friday.

The hand-over is part of a disarmament program agreed earlier this month, spokesman Stephane Dujarric told a press briefing in New York.

"Pronk and his verification team, comprising United Nations, Sudanese Government and other representatives, visited camps housing internally displaced persons and hospitals, including therapeutic centers for children, and met with relief workers," hesaid.

The verification mission is designed to determine whether Khartoum is making progress on its promises to disarm the brutal Janjaweed militia and improve security for Darfur's massive population of internally displaced persons.

The spokesman said Pronk is likely to brief the UN Security Council next Thursday on his findings. The 15-member council has threatened Sudan with possible measures under Article 41 of the UN Charter, including economic penalties, if it does not show progress.

Source: Xinhua