CAIRO, July 31 (Xinhuanet) -- Arab League (AL) delegate to the United Nations, Yahia Al-Mahmassani, on Saturday rapped a resolution by the UN Security Council on the Darfur issue as showing the mentality of double standards.
"Such a resolution reflects double standards by some of permanent members of the Security Council concerning Mideast issues," Mahmassani told the Cairo-based Voice of the Arabs from New York over phone.
"The Darfur crisis does not require issuing a resolution from the council, and peaceful efforts should be given a chance," he said.
He noted that the Arab group took reservations on a paragraph of the resolution, authorizing the Security Council to impose a kind of sanctions on Sudan if needed.
"Imposing sanctions would further complicate the matter, and would not help parties concerned find a political solution," he said.
On Friday, the UN Security Council issued a resolution, demanding that Sudan disarm marauding Arab militia in the troubled Darfur region and prosecute its leaders or face possible international economic sanctions.
The resolution requested UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to report in 30 days, and monthly thereafter, to it on Sudan's compliance with the demands.
It "expresses its intention to consider further actions, including measures as provided for in Article 41 of the Charter of the United Nations, on the government of Sudan, in the event of non-compliance."
The Sudanese government swiftly rejected the resolution.
Darfur is currently dubbed as the site of the world's worst humanitarian crisis. It has been plagued by a 17-month conflict between the Sudanese government and two rebel forces formed by local black tribes. The Janjaweed was said to be allies of the government, an allegation denied by Khartoum.
The conflict has left up to 30,000 people dead, some 1 million internally displaced and more than 2 million people in desperate deed of humanitarian assistance. There are another 150,000 Sudanese taking refugee in neighboring Chad. Enditem | 
Breaking
News