UN chief says not time to consider sanctions on Sudan

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Saturday that the Security Council should not consider sanctions on Sudan for the moment as the country needs more time to implement its commitment on peacekeeping in Darfur.

"Some members of the Security Council, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom, have been discussing imposing sanctions against Sudan," Ban told reporters in Geneva.

But the Sudanese government should be given more time to implement its latest commitment, he said.

Sudan's envoy to the United Nations announced Monday that the Sudanese government has approved a UN plan to send attack helicopters to support the African Union (AU) force in war-torn Darfur.

This has been considered as a new commitment by Sudan to abide by a three-phase peacekeeping plan in Darfur agreed by the United Nations, the AU and the Sudanese government last year.

Ban said the international community should wait and see whether Sudan would be serious in implementing the new commitment.

He added, however, that "when the moment of truth comes" and it is proved that Sudan will not be faithful, then he would let the Security Council to consider necessary measures against Sudan.

Source: Xinhua