U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will address the UN Security Council, seeking a rapid deployment of peacekeeping troops in Darfur, Sudan, President George W. Bush said on Monday.

"She's going to request a resolution that will accelerate the deployment of UN peacekeepers into Darfur," Bush said one day before Rice addresses the Security Council.

"We're now working with the UN to identify countries that contribute those troops, so the peacekeeping effort will be robust, " Bush said.

Bush made the announcement after the Sudanese government and rebel leaders signed a peace agreement in Abuja, Nigeria last week.

In addition, the president also announced that he would ask the Congress for some 225 million dollars in new U.S. aid to Sudan.

"With the peace agreement signed on Friday Sudan has a chance to begin anew," Bush said.

Rebels in Sudan's western arid Darfur region took up arms against the government in February 2003, accusing Khartoum of neglect.

Source: Xinhua