[JURIST] Speaking in Nigeria Sunday, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan [official profile] urged the UN Security Council [official website] to consider sanctions against Sudan [government website] for "gross violations of human rights". Annan cited a UN report, due to be released this week, that found that "serious violations of international humanitarian law and gross violations of human rights have taken place." The report had been undertaken to determine if the situation in Darfur met the legal definition of genocide [JURIST report] under international conventions, as has already been contended by the United States. Sanctions against Sudan were attempted last year, but Russia, who sells arms to Sudan, and China, who has current oil deals with the Sudanese government, vetoed the legislation. JURIST's Paper Chase has continuing coverage [JURIST Countries news archive] of Sudan. Reuters has more.