The United Nations Security Council urged Sudan to accept deployment of a peacekeeping force that will contain African Union (AU) and European troops in the ravaged Darfur region to augment the 7000 under-funded and ill-equipped AU force that has failed to stem the bloodshed.

Late last month, Sudan had accept a three-phase proposal to assist the AU force by providing technical and logistical help in the first two phases that could pave way for a "hybrid" third phase. However, a final approval from Sudanese strongman and President Omar al Beshir is still pending. Expressing "deep concern" for the "worsening security situation in Darfur and its repercussions in the region," the UNSC says that approval is necessary for the "immediate deployment" of the UN's "Light and Heavy Support Packages to the AU mission."

Independent estimates places the number of people killed in Darfur at 200,000 and number displaced at 2.5 million. Additionally, there has been highly disturbing reports of systematic rape and an impending famine which could greatly increase the number of those affected.