The U.S. President George W. Bush has signed a bill that allows him to impose sanctions on Sudan to protest the violence in the western region of Darfur. The law imposes measures on Khartoum for "its failure to stop the fighting in Darfur." The sanctions include a travel ban on senior Sudanese officials and freezing the assets of all officials and firms. The new legislation also demands Bush to call on other United Nations members to adopt similar measures and stop importing oil from Sudan. It also authorizes 100 million dollars as an incentive for the fighting parties to reach a final and comprehensive peace deal. The so-called "Comprehensive Peace in Sudan Act of 2004" backs the deployment of more African Union troops to the region. It authorizes $300 million in aid, including help to deploy more AU forces. Washington had already described the violence in Darfur as "genocide." The United States also accuses Khartoum of supporting the Janjaweed militias, responsible for much of the fighting in the war-torn region. The Sudanese government strongly rejects the allegations.
| "On what basis?" "Ummm... We don't need a basis!" |