Tuesday, September 12 2006 11:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: Warning that the security conditions in Darfur have reached a 'critical point,' UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has asked the Security Council to convince the Sudanese Government to allow United Nations peacekeepers take over from African Union troops.

Addressing the 15-member Council, Annan asked its members to live up to their promise last year to protect civilians in distress, stressing the time has run out for discussion and dithering.

"It is time to act," he said in remarks highlighted by bluntness unusual for the world body chief executive.

People not only in Darfur but around the world are watching the 'crucial test' of the Council's authority and effectiveness.

It is their action in Darfur that people would judge seriousness of the Council in its quest for peace and solidarity with the people in need.

Tens of thousands have died and more than two million forces to flee their homes by the three-year old conflict which began when black Africans revolted against alleged discrimination against the impoverished region of the size of France and the government sought help of Arab militias, known as Janjaweed, to help crush the revolt.

The African Union force which went to monitor peace is ill equipped and ill funded and lacks weapons and logistic support to play an effective role.

The Security Council has proposed replacing African Union force with UN peacekeepers with robust mandate. But Sudan has rejected it, partly because it fears that the UN force might be used to apprehend some of its officials for trial in the ICC on charges of crimes against humanity.