Darfur: The world is watching

"The world is watching" to see Sudan's government fulfill promises made to Secretary State Colin Powell, Departament of State’s officials say. The promises were made to ease the humanitarian crisis in the country's western Darfur region, reports Voce of America.

State Department officials say Sudanese leaders committed themselves to a "concrete action plan" for Darfur with a "very specific timetable," and that fulfillment of those commitments will affect, among other things, the future of a U.S.-sponsored draft U.N. Security Council resolution on the crisis.

According to ctv.ca, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan told Sudan's government that progress must be made within 48 hours to resolve the bitter conflict in the western Darfur region, which UN officials say has created the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Annan made the statements during a high-profile visit to the African nation accompanied by Colin Powell. The U.S. secretary of state reiterated his country's call on the United Nations to impose an arms embargo and travel ban on the Arab militia -- known as the Janjaweed -- blamed for attacks on civilians in Darfur.