US Secretary of State Colin Powell (L) and Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit point to reporters at their joint press conference held in Cairo, Egypt, July 28, 2004. Powell stressed Wednesday that pressure must be capped on the Sudanese government to settle the Darfur crisis. Powell arrived in Cairo late July 27. (Xinhua Photo)

US Secretary of State Colin Powell (L) answers questions while Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit looks on at their joint press conference held in Cairo, Egypt, July 28, 2004.(Xinhua Photo)

US Secretary of State Colin Powell gestures at a press conference held in Cairo, Egypt, July 28, 2004. (Xinhua Photo)

   CAIRO, July 28 (Xinhuanet) -- US Secretary of State Colin Powell said here on Wednesday that pressure must be capped on the Sudanese government to settle the Darfur crisis.

   "The situation in Darfur is a very tragic one ... we have seen the suffering on the ground. We should give the Sudanese government time to respond, but these people do not have much time before disease and famine take tens of thousands of lives," Powell told reporters after talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit.

   "So the international community has come together to put pressure on the Sudanese government to allow full access to the area for humanitarian workers," Powell said.

   He also urged the Sudanese government to rein in Arab militias, bring security and stability to Darfur and enable local people to return to their homes.

   The US policy toward Sudan over the past several years was to take off sanctions, not to impose sanctions, said Powell.

   The United States has worked to achieve reconciliation between the north and the south in Sudan, the top US diplomat said.

   As for a US-sponsored draft resolution before the United Nations Security Council, he said, "what we are anxious to do is to help these people to address their need, additional action may be required on part of the international community."

   "No one wishes to make the situation any worse with respect to the reinforcement of sanctions, and at the same time pressure must be capped on the Sudanese government," he said.

   For his part, Abul Gheit said that the Sudanese government must be given enough time to meet its commitments, adding that it is imperative to resort to diplomatic means to solve the problem.

   Powell said on Tuesday that it was premature to discuss military intervention in Darfur, where humanitarian groups said one of the world's worst humanitarian crisis was unfolding.

   When aboard a plane travelling to Cairo, Powell said that some nations have gone further and started to talk about other actions of a military nature.

   "But I think that's premature," Powell said.

   Britain and Australia, both staunch US allies, have voiced readiness to join international military intervention forces to help check the deteriorating situation in Darfur.

   The US-drafted resolution threatened to impose sanctions on Sudan in 30 days, if Khartoum does not curb Arab militias, known as Janjaweed, reportedly responsible for killing, looting and rape.  Enditem