International brief ~ US proposes UN resolution to sanction Sudan officials News
International brief ~ US proposes UN resolution to sanction Sudan officials

[JURIST] Leading Tuesday's international brief, following China and Russia's block of an attempt to implement targeted sanctions [JURIST report] in the UN sanctions committee on Sudan against four Sudanese officials alleged to have intentionally hindered the peace process in the Darfur region [JURIST news archive] of Sudan, the US has proposed an official Security Council [official website] resolution that calls for the same sanctions to be imposed by the Security Council itself. The move will force Russia and China to decide if they wish to go on record as opposing the sanctions, since a simple "concerned objection" as allowed in the sanctions committee will have no effect on the resolution. If they wish to stop the sanctions from proceeding, one of the two permanent members would be forced to use its veto, a public act often avoided by permanent members for fear of political backlash. The US warned that it would put the sanctions to a vote following the block by Russia and China [JURIST report] on Tuesday. The names of the four officials will not be released unless the resolution is approved. JURIST's Paper Chase has continuing coverage of Sudan [JURIST news archive]. The Sudan Tribune has local coverage.

In other international legal news …

  • Four members of the Hamas government whose residency permits were revoked on Tuesday in response to the Monday suicide bombing in Jerusalem have announced their intent to appeal the ruling to the Israeli Supreme Court [official website]. The three legislators and one cabinet member had their right to permanently reside in Jerusalem revoked by the Israeli government as a response to Hamas' official statement that Monday's suicide bombing was an 'act of self-defense' by an oppressed population. The Israeli government said that the act was not intended to establish precedent for removing Palestinian residency rights in Jerusalem, but was a legitimate response to state-sponsored terrorism by the Hamas party. JURIST's Paper Chase has continuing coverage of Israel [JURIST news archive]. The Jerusalem Post has local coverage.
  • US President George W. Bush has announced his intention to lend American weight to the ongoing investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri [JURIST news archive]. Bush told reporters that America would assist in the investigation to discover who was responsible for the assassination after a meeting with current Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. Lebanon began a steady shift away from its decade's long Syrian oppression after a UN report [JURIST report] implicated Syrian involvement in the assassination. Siniora is a member of the ruling anti-Syrian political party in Lebanon and has been touted as a fresh hope for democracy in the region. Reuters has more.
  • Iraq's General Integrity Committee (GIC) has announced plans to work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to meet the official requirements necessary for Iraq to become a signatory to the UN Convention against Corruption [text]. The head of the GIC told reporters that all necessary legal and diplomatic steps were being investigated to ensure that Iraq could lawfully join the convention. He also emphasized the need for substantial methods capable of providing a check on government corruption and said that the rule of law in Iraq depended on the ability of the nation to fight corruption. JURIST's Paper Chase has continuing coverage of Iraq [JURIST news archive]. MENAFN has local coverage.
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