Sudan: UN snubbed as Darfur peace talks collapse

The crisis in Darfur intensified this week, as peace talks between the Sudanese government and rebel forces collapsed and China rejected a watered-down draft of a UN Security Council resolution. The US-backed resolution is a modified version of an earlier draft, which contained a direct threat of sanctions if Sudan failed to disarm the Janjaweed, the pro-government Arab militias. The resolution was re-worded on Tuesday in the hope of satisfying China, Algeria and Pakistan, which oppose the idea of sanctions against Sudan.