'Last chance' for Darfur troops

The African Union force is struggling to halt the violence

Senior US official John Negroponte is in Sudan in a bid to secure the deployment of UN peacekeepers to the war-torn Darfur region.

Sudan has been blocking attempts to strengthen the African Union (AU) force already in Darfur with UN troops.

A BBC correspondent in Khartoum says it is seen as the last chance for Sudan to avoid tougher US sanctions.

The main sticking point is the use of helicopters, but Sudan officials have recommended the president accept them.

As Mr Negroponte arrived, Senegal threatened to pull its troops from the AU mission unless security is improved.

Five Senegalese soldiers were killed in a recent attack by rebel forces on AU peacekeepers.

The four-year Darfur conflict between rebels and pro-government Arab militia has seen more than 200,000 deaths and at least 2.4 million displaced.

The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Khartoum says the 7,000-strong AU peacekeeping force is overwhelmed by the complexity and scale of the conflict in Darfur.

'Misunderstanding'

The US deputy secretary of state's trip is part of a big international push to persuade Sudan to accept the better-equipped UN-AU.

He follows visits in the last week from South African President Thabo Mbeki and Chinese envoy, Zhai Jun.

Diplomats say the bone of contention appears to be over the use of helicopter gunships by the hybrid force.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the impasse seemed to be a misunderstanding on the part of the Sudanese government.

"This peacekeeping is itself by definition a peacekeeping operation - it is not for any offensive," Mr Ban said.

"This is just standard equipment about which they should have no concern."

Sudan's foreign ministry says its officials have recommended to President Omar al-Bashir that the AU be allowed to use attack helicopters.

"They have made a positive recommendation and it is now up to the leadership. The president must decide," foreign ministry spokesman Ali al-Sadig told Reuters news agency.

Threats

Our correspondent says Mr Negroponte is expected to bring the message that Washington's patience has run out.

The US already has trade sanctions in place on Sudan.

But US President George Bush is known to be a supporter of tougher sanctions and only pressure from the UN has held him back so far.

These could include travel bans on individuals and the freezing of assets based in the US.

Sudanese companies doing business in US dollars could also face restrictions.

Our reporter says the big question is whether Khartoum cares what the Americans say any more.

Since sanctions were first imposed in 1997, the Sudanese economy has boomed on the back of investment from China and the Far East.