UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- The United Nations Security Council increased its pressure on Sudan over the Darfur crisis on Saturday, threatening to impose sanctions on the nation's oil sector and its individual government members if it fails to stabilize the situation in Darfur.

    A US-proposed resolution to this effect was adopted by the 15-nation council in a vote of 11 to 0, with abstentions by China, Pakistan, Russia and Algeria.

    The resolution, co-sponsored by Britain, Germany, Romania and Spain, was the second to be passed by the council with the threat that punitive measures would be taken against Sudan over Darfur.

    The new resolution demands Sudan comply with the July 30 resolution which calls for the disarmament of Arab militias and the arrest of their leaders responsible for alleged atrocities committed in Darfur.

    It also demands Sudan cooperate with an expanded African Union (AU) monitoring mission in Darfur with a broader mandate.

    The resolution says that in the event of Sudan's non-compliance, the council "shall consider taking additional measures ... such as actions to affect Sudan's petroleum sector and the government of Sudan or individual members of the government of Sudan."

    UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, present during the vote, is requested to rapidly set up a commission to determine whether genocide had happened in Darfur.

    In a letter made public just before the vote, the Sudanese government reaffirmed its readiness to cooperate with the African Union (AU).

    Sudan is prepared to "fully cooperate with the African Union" and "will welcome an agreement with the AU on any numbers of monitors and their protection forces as the AU deems necessary," the letter read. Enditem