24 April 2004	Saturday	03 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

GENEVA, April 23: The United Nations' top human rights forum on Friday adopted a softly worded text on atrocities allegedly committed in Sudan's Darfur region and refused to vote on a US demand for stronger action.

But the United States demanded a special session of the Commission on Human Rights upon the return of a UN team from Sudan, where it is investigating charges of attacks by Sudanese troops and Arab militias on black African civilians, in what could constitute war crimes.

Fifty member states approved the mildly-worded document drawn up as a compromise between the European Union and a bloc of African nations. Washington rejected the text, and there were two abstentions.

Frustrated by the decision, the US delegation head Richard Williamson said a second vote be taken on an original, stronger draft resolution proposed earlier by the European Union and co-sponsored by the United States. -AFP