[JURIST] The UN Security Council [official website] unanimously passed a resolution [text] Tuesday that accelerates planning for a United Nations [official website] peacekeeping force in Sudan's Darfur region [JURIST news archive]. US President Bush last week asked the Council [press briefing transcript] to adopt the resolution, which demands that an assessment team be deployed to Sudan within a week to prepare for UN control of the African Union-led peacekeeping mission now in Darfur. Drafted by the US, the resolution also threatens sanctions against anyone who interferes with the peace agreement [text; BBC report] between the Sudanese government [official website; CIA backgrounder] and the main rebel group.

Sudan's government opposed UN-led peacekeeping forces [JURIST report] before the May 5 peace agreement, but has since indicated that it may agree to the UN presence. The African Union agreed Monday to transfer authority over the 7,300 peacekeepers [BBC report] to the UN no later than the end of September. AP has more. The UN News Centre has additional coverage.