The UN Security Council was divided over the US-sponsored resolution on Sudan, as had been expected.
At a meeting of the 15-nation council, Russia, Pakistan and especially China voiced strong objections to the draft, which hangs the threat of sanctions over Sudan, diplomats who attended the session told AFP.
In comments after the meeting, US Ambassador to the UN John Danforth spoke strongly in support of the resolution and played down the threat that China might veto it.
"The government of Sudan is not going to respond if there's no pressure," Danforth said. "That possibility must be out there."He also scoffed at the notion that China's objections to the resolution could lead Beijing to use its veto power on the council to block the measure.
"If anybody wants to take that responsibility -- just stepping back and letting people die and be shot down by helicopters and raped -- I don't see how that can be explained," he said.
The French also voiced support for the thrust of the resolution.
French ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere said he also wanted a vote next week, stressing that the council needed to take action quickly and calling the US draft a "good basis" for further discussions."The council has to keep some pressure on the government of Sudan," de La Sabliere said, expressing hope for "a resolution that would be adopted by a large majority."
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