U.S. President Barack Obama will soon unveil a new policy for Sudanthat takes a softer approach than the president called for during hiscampaign for the White House.
Administration officials say theplan, which will be announced Monday, calls for working with theSudanese government using a mix of pressure and incentives.
Thenew policy is aimed at convincing Khartoum to stop human rights abusesin the troubled Darfur region, settle disputes with the semi-autonomoussouth and cooperate more fully in the fight against terrorism.
TheObama administration settled on its new strategy after months of heateddebate, particularly between U.S. ambassador to the United Nations,Susan Rice, and the U.S. special envoy to Sudan, Scott Gration. Riceargued for a more hard line approach than Gration.
In a show of unity, Gration and Rice will be present when Secretary Clinton unveils the new policy Monday.
Mr.Obama had pledged during his presidential campaign to isolate Sudanwhose president, Omar al-Bashir, has been indicted for war crimes.
TheInternational Criminal Court has accused President Bashir ofmasterminding a campaign of rape, murder and other crimes againstDarfur civilians.
On Friday, Sudanese officials in the north andthe semi-autonomous south announced they had reached an agreement onhow to conduct a 2011 referendum on the south's full independence.
Previously,south Sudan had accused the north of trying to undermine theindependence vote. The referendum is part of a 2005 peace deal betweenthe north and the south that ended 21 years of civil war.