The US scheduled a UN vote for tomorrow on its resolution threatening sanctions against Sudan if it did not stop atrocities in Darfur after changing contentious language to get support.
Having faced opposition from seven countries in the 15-member UN Security Council, US officials today revised the draft resolution for the third time and deleted the word "sanctions."
But the measure still carries the threat of unspecified sanctions against Khartoum in 30 days through more cumbersome language, such as pointing to provisions in the UN Charter on economic, communications or diplomatic sanctions.
"The initial draft included the word sanctions. It turns out that the use of that word is objectionable to certain members of the Security Council," US Ambassador Mr John Danforth old reporters. "They would rather use 'UN speak' for exactly the same thing."
Still unclear is whether the cosmetic softening of language is acceptable to all council members, many of whom had argued that Sudan needed time to reign in Arab militia, called Janjaweed, accused of killing thousands of Africans, raping women and confining villagers to barren camps.
Diplomats said Pakistan, Russia and China still had problems with the text. Previously, Brazil, the Philippines, Angola and Algeria had also raised objections.
A minimum of nine votes is needed for adoption and the United States said it would call a vote tomorrow morning. Britain, France, Germany, Spain and Romania and Spain will co-sponsor the measure. Chile said it would vote "yes."