The UN Security Council voted on Tuesday in favor of a resolution imposing a travel ban and an assets freeze on alleged violators of human rights in the conflict-wracked region of Darfur, west Sudan.

The 15-nation council passed the resolution, drafted by the United States, in a vote of 12-0, with China, Russia and Algeria abstaining.

The approved sanction measures would also target those individuals who are found to have impeded the Darfur peace processor posed a threat to the region's stability.

By passing the resolution, the council expanded the existing UN arms embargo on Darfur to include the Sudanese government. A committee composed of experts from all council members will be setup to monitor the implementation of the weapons ban.

The committee will also create a list of persons who are subject to the travel ban and assets freeze, and report back to the council on the implementation of these sanction measures every three months. The measures will enter into force 30 days after the adoption of the resolution.

The resolution called on all governments to freeze the funds, financial assets and economic resources of these individuals in their countries, as well as the assets of the entities those individuals own.

It also urged the Sudanese government and rebel groups to resume peace talks in Abuja, Nigeria, without preconditions and to negotiate in good faith so as to reach agreement quickly.

Chinese Ambassador to the UN Wang Guangya told the council after the vote that China abstained because it had serious reservations about the text.

"Continuing to exert pressure on all parties in Darfur without considering the complexity of the specific circumstances of Darfur would not help the drive for a political solution," he said.

"Having suggested amendments to the text adopted today in order to achieve consensus and speak with one voice, China failed to meet with a positive response and had therefore abstained," he added.

(Xinhua News Agency March 30, 2005)