Bush signs 'Peace Act'

US President George Bush has approved legislation calling for sanctions against the Sudanese government if it fails to act in good faith during negotiations with southern rebels. "The Government of Sudan must choose between the path to peace and the path to continued war and destruction," Bush said in a statement released by the White House on Monday. The legislation empowers the US administration to suspend diplomatic relations with Khartoum, to oppose loans and assistance from international financial organisations, to take steps to deny Sudan oil revenues, and to seek a UN resolution for an arms embargo against the Sudanese government. If the Sudanese government "makes the right choice, that course will mean improvement in the lives of all Sudanese, better bilateral relations with the United States, and the beginning of its reacceptance into the community of peace-loving nations," Bush said. Under the Sudan Peace Act, passed by an overwhelming majority in both houses of the US Congress earlier this month, the US government must certify every six months that both Khartoum and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) are acting in good faith in efforts to bring an end to the country's 19-year civil war. However, the Act makes no provision for direct sanctions against the rebel group, merely saying that if it was not conducting talks in good faith, any sanctions imposed on the government would then be dropped. The Act also authorises the payment of US $300 million over three years to assist "areas outside government control to prepare the population for peace and democratic governance", including support to civil administration, education, health, and agriculture. The Sudanese government has strongly criticised the Act, saying it reflects a return to "failed and imbalanced policies" by the US administration. The Act was "hostile, biased and religiously motivated", according to a statement released by the Sudanese embassy in Washington earlier this month. A previous attempt by US lawmakers to pass similar legislation stalled over a proposal to impose capital market sanctions on both US and foreign companies doing business with Khartoum. The current legislation does not include the contentious proposal. Khartoum suspended peace negotiations in Kenya on 2 September, saying the SPLM/A had spoiled the atmosphere of talks by launching an offensive in the south, and by making demands which fell outside the scope of a framework deal agreed in July. In a memorandum of understanding, signed prior to the resumption of talks last week, both parties agreed to suspend hostilities for the duration of negotiations being held under the aegis of the regional Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). However, both sides have already accused each other of violating the truce. Just ten minutes after the cessation of hostilities came into force, the SPLM/A said government forces had launched an attack in eastern Sudan. And Khartoum this week said it would make an official complaint to IGAD over the SPLM/A capture of the southern town of Akobo, Jonglei State.