Sudan pressed further on Darfur

Over one million have fled their homes to live in refugee camps

The United Nations Security Council is being urged to impose sanctions on Sudanese officials when it meets to discuss the crisis in Darfur.

A draft UN resolution proposed by the United States calls on Sudan to disarm the pro-government militia and impose travel and arms sanctions on them.

But a human rights group said Sudanese officials must also be punished.

Sudan agreed on Saturday to disarm Arab militias accused of "ethnic cleansing" Darfur's black African population.

Human Rights Watch described the militias as a tool created by the Sudanese government, and as such, the authorities must share responsibility for the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, where more than a million people have been displaced.

According to the NGO Oxfam the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, people are still arriving in camps where food is running out, drinking water is scarce and makeshift shelters are collapsing.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair warned the Sudanese government to help with the international aid effort.

"We expect the government of Sudan to co-operate in this and if they do not co-operate we will have to consider what further measures we take," he told British MPs on Wednesday.

Catastrophe

UN Secretary-General Kofi Anan and US Secretary of State Colin Powell visited Darfur last week.

We are not happy, but we will co-operate Mustafa Osman Ismail Sudan's Foreign Minister

On Tuesday, Mr Annan told the opening of the African Union (AU) summit that a "catastrophe" was looming there.

But not all Security Council members want to move quickly - China, Pakistan and Algeria are thought to be hesitant, reports Reuters news agency.

The Darfur conflict erupted 16 months ago, when two main rebel groups - the Sudanese Liberation Movement (SLM) and the Justice and Equality Movement (Jem) - took up arms, accusing the government of ignoring the region.

The government intervened militarily bombing villages and is accused of arming the militia, known as the Janjaweed.

Although the government and rebel groups signed a ceasefire in April, daily violations continue.

'Unhappy'

Following intense international pressure, the Sudanese government has lifted a number of restrictions on the imports of aid supplies and the movement of relief organisations in Darfur.

Some 300 AU troops will be deployed to guard the 40 ceasefire monitors who have so far been unable to start work due to a lack of security.

'World's worst humanitarian crisis'

"We are not happy, but we will co-operate," Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail told the BBC about the troop deployment.

He blamed the continuing violence on small groups of rebels distributed throughout Darfur. Until they were regrouped in one area it would be difficult to contain the clashes, he said.

Hamil Algabid, the AU's special envoy to Darfur, told Reuters that disarming the Janjaweed would be difficult if the rebels remained armed.

He urged all sides to attend fresh talks under the auspices of the AU to take place in Addis Ababa next week, as concerns mount about splits within rebel ranks.

Coup

In Khartoum, the government has charged 36 members of the opposition Popular Congress party with subversion.

The detainees are accused of several crimes, including plotting to overthrow the government and inciting rebellion. Some of the charges carry the death sentence. More than 70 people were originally arrested in April, after opposition leader Hassan al Turabi was accused of funding rebels in the Darfur area - a charge he denies.

The detainees will appear in court on Wednesday when a date will be set for their trial.