UN decision on Darfur wins global applause

PARIS (AFP) - World powers yesterday hailed the UN decision to create a new peacekeeping force in Darfur, with some countries backing their applause with offers of military or medical personnel.

The resolution authorising a joint UN-African Union force for the strife-ridden region of western Sudan was passed unanimously by the UN Security Council on Tuesday, having won the key support of China.

"This is the result of concerted effort and should be fully recognised and encouraged," Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said just hours after the UN vote mandating the 26,000-strong force.

China is Sudan's biggest arms supplier and oil customer, and Beijing has previously urged the international community not to pressure the government in Khartoum.

Japan said the joint mission should be deployed "as quickly as possible" -- a call echoed by the human rights watchdog Amnesty International, which stressed the severity of the crisis afflicting people in Darfur.

"They can wait no longer for protection. It must be delivered immediately, effectively and with a full mandate to protect civilians from further violence," said Amnesty chief Irene Khan.

Khartoum gave a cautious welcome to the UN resolution, saying it contained "several positive elements" but its ambassador to the UN, Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem Mohamad, warned that it should not be seen as "a blank cheque" for those seeking a hard line on Sudan.

According to UN estimates, at least 200,000 people have died from the combined effect of war and famine since the Darfur conflict started in February 2003, although the Sudanese government disputes the figures.

While it backed the resolution, the United States took a tough stance toward Khartoum, warning of sanctions in the event of its non-compliance.

"If Sudan does not comply... the United States will move for the swift adoption of unilateral and multilateral measures," US ambassador to the UN Zalmay Khalilzad said.

The vote came only hours after British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, in a speech at the United Nations, also threatened sanctions if the violence in Darfur continued.

The African Union, whose contingent of peacekeepers has struggled to restore stability in Darfur over the past three years, voiced relief at the decision.

"The ball is now in the court of the UN and the African Union to make sure we demonstrate an exemplary cooperation," AU commissioner for peace and security Said Djinnit told AFP in Addis Ababa.

France, one of the resolution's co-sponsors, stressed the importance of African nations contributing the bulk of the force's military component.

"We have offered (troops)," Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told reporters.