SUDAN

Kofi Annan says he thinks the UN may back moves to threaten Sudan with sanctions over the current atrocities in Darfur. Oooooh I bet they're scared now! The UN has had many high-profile successes with it's rhetoric and sanctions, including... ermmmm.... hmmmmmm.... can't think of any right now but I'm sure there were some.

And how is imposing sanctions on a coutnry with virtually no international trade going to help? Will they even notice? Sadly this will all come back to oil again. One of the main reasons there is fighting around the Darfur region is because it is oil rich, and the arab dominated governement in Khartoum is trying to drive the native african inhabitants out of the region rather than cut them a slice of the action.

Of course this means that governments around the world will publicly be saying how bad the situation is, while privately be signing drilling, refining and shipping deals left right and centre.

Plus ca change....