By Mike McCarthy
Washington, Oct 19 (DPA) The United States pledged Monday to increase pressure on the Sudanese government and rebel groups in an attempt to bring an end to what it calls genocide in the Darfur region.

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton told reporters the United States would bring “credible pressure” coupled with incentives for all sides to end the violence in Darfur and implement a peace agreement in the separate North-South conflict.

President Barack Obama said he would renew “tough sanctions” later this week on the Sudanese government while promising improved relations if it moves to end the fighting in Darfur.

“As the United States and our international partners meet our responsibility to act, the government of Sudan must meet its responsibilities to take concrete steps in a new direction,” Obama said in a statement.

The fighting in Darfur erupted in 2003, claiming the lives of more than 300,000 people and forcing more than 2 million to flee,according to UN estimates. The Bush administration enacted sanctions on Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

Al-Bashir is facing war crimes charges in the International Criminal Court for his government’s alleged role in backing the so-called Janjaweed militia in its campaign in Darfur. The West had also accused al-Bashir of obstructing peacekeeping effort by the United Nations and African Union.

“If the government of Sudan acts to improve the situation on the ground and to advance peace, there will be incentives; if it does not, then there will be increased pressure imposed by the United States and the international community,” Obama said.

Obama and Clinton said they would keep pressure on Khartoum to fully implement a 2005 agreement ending the North-South civil war that was waged for more than two decades and took the lives of at least 1 million people.

Clinton said the United States will more broadly engage the Sudanese government but better relations will not come unless concrete progress toward ending the violence is made.

“Assessment of progress and decisions regarding incentives and disincentives will be based on verifiable changes in conditions on the ground,” Clinton said.

Clinton would not specify the measures the United States could use to punish Sudan, saying only they will be “political and economic” and designed to send “a clear message if the progress we expect is not occurring.”

The US ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, called the new policy “smart, tough and balanced.” Rice accompanied Clinton along with the special US envoy for Sudan, retired major general Scott Gration, at the press conference to unveil the new strategy.

“There will be significant consequences for parties that backslide,” Rice said.

The Obama administration began reviewing the Sudan policy in March and Clinton said there was a “sense of urgency” to resolve the conflict that threatens to destabilize the region. Most of the refugees in the Darfur conflict have fled into Chad, contributing to tension between Sudan and its western neighbour.

“Advancing peace and stability in Sudan will not be easy,” Clinton said, but added: “Sitting on the sidelines is not an option.”

The situation in Sudan is regarded as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The North-South conflict and fighting in Darfur pits the Arab government in Khartoum against African rebels.

Although separate in origin, Clinton said the failure to implement the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement could provoke violence elsewhere and make it more difficult to resolve the outcome in

Darfur.

Clinton said both sides in the North-South conflict must agree on final borders and ensure a referendum on southern self-determination in 2011 is credible.