Sudan and the UN security council

Pakistan was also a strong opponent of sanctions, along with Russia, which has a veto. Compromise resolutions were reached, but were widely mis-reported as having given Sudan a deadline to act or else face sanctions. In fact, the furthest the Security Council members were willing to go was to order monthly reports and say they were prepared to consider "further action".

The monthly reports have indicated a deteriorating situation, but the Council has not carried out its threat to even consider "further action", preferring instead to push for a final peace agreement in the North-South war.

However, a report due late this month should put it back on the Council's agenda. A resolution last September set up a panel of experts to determine whether genocide or crimes against humanity had been committed. A ruling on genocide could open up new divisions between countries which have – until now – worked together at the UN.

The US has led the effort on Darfur, with support from European countries. With any possibility of sanctions falling victim to China's veto, there's now a rift over whether to refer the matter to the International Criminal Court.

The US has been hostile to whole idea of the Court, which came into effect only recently, and has gone out of its way to ensure its own military would not be subject to its rulings.