EU steps up pressure over Darfur

More than a million people have fled their homes

The European Union has warned Sudan to crack down on Arab militia attacking black Africans in the Darfur region or face international sanctions.

The Dutch foreign minister told his Sudanese counterpart more had to be done to end the bloodshed there.

Earlier, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana urged the Sudanese government to arrest militia leaders.

The militia, known as the Janjaweed, have forced more than a million from their homes and killed thousands.

"If the situation doesn't improve quickly, sanctions by the international community will inevitably follow," said Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot after meeting Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail in Brussels.

"There has been improvement, but it is not sufficient," he was quoted by news agency ANP as saying.

The call brings the EU closer in line with the United States, which has tabled a draft resolution at the United Nations demanding Sudan disarm the Janjaweed or face sanctions.

The Dutch currently hold the EU presidency.

'Arrests'

On Friday, Javier Solana told Mr Ismail the EU felt "great concern" about continuing attacks by the Janjaweed and urged Sudan to arrest the militia leaders "without delay", his spokeswoman Cristina Gallach said.

Mr Ismail said Sudan had arrested "100 of the Janjaweed leaders and will put them in court", the news agency reported.

Sudan has consistently denied accusations that it controls the pro-government Janjaweed.

Human rights groups have accused the militia of numerous abuses - killing, looting and mass rape - of the non-Arab residents of Darfur.

The United Nations has described the situation in Darfur as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.

Rebels mull talks

The UN said on Friday two rebel groups from Darfur have agreed to new talks with Khartoum to try to find a political solution to the conflict.

A first round of talks in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, broke down a week ago, when one of the groups walked out.

But a rebel leader from the Darfur region said on Saturday his group would not talk to the government until it disarmed Arab militias.

Khalil Ibrahim, leader of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement, said: the government had to "meet preconditions which are the terms of the ceasefire signed ... on April 8".

On Friday, Britain's most senior Army general said the UK would be able to send 5,000 troops to Sudan to help ease the humanitarian crisis.

Chief of General Staff Sir Mike Jackson told the BBC: "I suspect we could put a brigade together very quickly indeed."