Bush OKs sanctions over Darfur killings

President Bush yesterday approved new sanctions aimed at cutting off aid to the Sudanese government’s genocidal campaign in Darfur, earning cautious praise from Democrats.

{mosads}Bush had delayed the formal start of sanctions last month after United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had asked for more time to negotiate with Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) called the economic curbs “a step in the right direction,” but Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) set the bar higher.

“I hope today’s announcement will be followed closely with a new [U.N.] Security Council resolution imposing multilateral economic sanctions and other restrictions on Sudan,” Durbin said in a statement. “A threatened veto by the Security Council should not silence us.”

Bush also announced yesterday that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has begun talks with Security Council allies on a new Darfur resolution, expected to expand the arms embargo against Bashir’s regime. Meanwhile, Durbin plans to offer new legislation next week to stiffen penalties for violators of sanctions and reporting requirements for foreign companies traded in the U.S. that do business with Sudan.