Un Sets Criteria For Sanctions İn South Sudan

The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution Tuesday that would blacklist those who "threaten the peace, security or stability" of South Sudan.



The U.S.-drafted resolution set out the criteria for those who would be sanctioned with asset freezes and travel bans.



It also said future sanctions could include an arms embargo if the government and opposition forces failed to reach an agreement to end the conflict.



Tens of thousands of victims have been killed and more than 1.5 million displaced since a political crisis between President Salva Kiir, his former Vice-President Riek Machar, and their respective factions, spiraled into a violent conflict in December 2013.



As a direct result, some 4 million South Sudanese remain in need of relief assistance, according to the UN.



The resolution said there are "reasonable grounds" to believe that crimes against humanity and war crimes were committed by government and opposition forces.



Kiir and Machar had a face-to-face meeting on Tuesday in Ethiopia, just two days ahead of a deadline set by East African mediators to conclude a final agreement.



Failure to reach a final deal by a March 5 deadline could result in sanctions by the African Union, which could include travel bans, asset freezes and arms embargoes on both parties to the conflict.



www.aa.com.tr/en - New York