[JURIST] The Darfur Peace and Accountability Act of 2006 [HR 3127 text, PDF; bill summary] received near-unanimous approval [roll call] by the US House of Representatives [official website] Wednesday evening. The bill, if approved by the Senate and signed by the president, would deny entry to the US and freeze the assets of those responsible for committing genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity in Sudan's Darfur region [JURIST news archive]. The president would be authorized to waive the restrictions if it were in the national interest, and the president would also be given the authority to assist African Union peacekeepers in the region [JURIST report]. The bill does not authorize, however, the use of US forces in Darfur. The legislation would also prohibit US aid to countries who violate arms embargos [JURIST report] imposed by the UN Security Council [official website] in Resolutions 1556 and 1591 [texts].

In 2004, Congress passed the Comprehensive Peace in Sudan Act of 2004 [PDF text; JURIST report], and the current bill is designed to expand that legislation. AP has more.