A United Nations panel of sanctions experts has called on Sudan's neighboring countries to crack down on arms smuggling to the war-battered Darfur region, west Sudan.

In a report to the Security Council that was released Wednesday, the four-member panel recommended that the council extend and strengthen its embargo and consider designating individuals against whom the sanctions should be applied.

"It is clear that arms, especially small arms and ammunition, continue to enter Darfur from a number of countries and from other regions of Sudan," the report said.

During its investigation, the panel determined that since a UN arms embargo was imposed on all non-governmental groups in 2004, the armed opposition Sudan Liberation Movement and Justice and Equality Movement have continued to receive arms, ammunition and equipment from Chad, Eritrea, Libya and other unknown sources.

The experts asserted that the governments of Chad and Libya could do more to prevent the violations.

The panel also judged that the government of Eritrea has provided, and probably continues to provide, arms, logistical support, military training and political support to the two rebel forces.

The panel of experts was set up to help monitor the implementation of the arms embargo imposed by two council resolutions and inform the council about individuals who impede the peace process.

Source: Xinhua