The European Union is to threaten sanctions against Sudan's government for failing to stop "massive and severe" human rights abuses by Arab militia against African villagers in Darfur.
EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels were expected on Monday to announce "appropriate measures, which could include sanctions, against the government of Sudan . . . if no tangible progress is achieved," an EU diplomat said.
The latest UN situation report on violence in the vast and arid western region of Sudan - where the United Nations says the world's worst humanitarian crisis is unfolding - said looting and attacks were on the increase.
The report came a day after US Secretary of State Colin Powell said Sudan's efforts to rein in the Arab militia known as Janjaweed were not working, and declared that Washington would continue to work for sanctions against Khartoum.
The draft conclusions set to be approved by the EU foreign ministers read: "The Council (of foreign ministers) concludes that there is no indication that the government of Sudan has taken real and verifiable steps to disarm and neutralise these militia and the Janjaweed.
"Contrary to various announcements by the government of Sudan, there are reports about continuing massive and severe human rights violations by the armed militia, including systematic rape of women."
The United States last week circulated a draft UN Security Council resolution threatening sanctions on Sudan's budding oil industry, which pumps 320,000 barrels per day, if it did not stop abuses in the region.
The measure also called on Sudan to accept a larger monitoring force from the African Union which already has 80 observers and a 300-strong protection force to monitor an often-violated ceasefire between Darfur rebels and Khartoum.
Rebels in Darfur launched a revolt in early 2003 after years of skirmishes between African farmers and Arab nomads over land. The rebels accuse Khartoum of arming the Janjaweed to crush them and their civilian sympathisers, a charge the government denies.