Threats of sanctions against Sudan because of its handling of the Darfur crisis will only make matters worse, Vice President Ali Osman Mohammed Taha has said. Taha was referring to a draft resolution that the United States presented to the U.N. Security Council last week that said the world body "will take" punitive actions, including oil penalties, against Sudan's government if it does not comply with U.N. resolutions calling for the disarming of militia in the western region of Darfur. Hours after Taha spoke Tuesday, the United States submitted a revised text to the Security Council which softened the wording to say the council "shall consider" measures "such as actions to affect Sudan's petroleum sector" if Sudan does not put an end to militia violence. Sudan produces an estimated 250,000 barrels of oil per day. The revision appeared to be a response to China, whose U.N. ambassador had indicated he would veto a resolution that explicitly threatened sanctions. Taha said: "I think we need to work in a constructive manner rather than to pursue the policy of making pressures and sanctions which will only help to deteriorate the situation." --MORE 1310 Local Time 1010 GMT
