By Laura MacInnis GENEVA, March 21 (Reuters) - European Union states called on Wednesday for closer international surveillance of human rights in Darfur after a U.N.-commissioned report largely blamed the Sudanese government for continuing war crimes there. In a proposal to the United Nations Human Rights Council, they said a team of experts should be formed to keep pressure on Khartoum to honour past recommendations on respecting the rights of civilians in the vast western region. Observers estimate 200,000 people have been killed and more than 2 million driven from their homes since a revolt broke out four years ago. The government responded to the uprising by arming militias which have been accused of atrocities. Last week, a team dispatched by the Council to investigate allegations of widespread violations, including killings, rapes and arbitrary arrests, accused Khartoum of orchestrating and taking part in such international crimes. Sudan denies responsibility and blames rebel factions for the abuses. Amongst the recommendations of the team, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jody Williams, was a call to the 47-state Council to set up a "dedicated procedure or mechanism to monitor the situation of human rights" in Darfur. The EU states said the U.N.'s special rapporteur on Sudan should head the monitoring group, which would also include U.N. investigators on children in armed conflict, internally displaced persons, violence against women and torture, amongst others. It also called on all sides to cease all violence against civilians, humanitarian workers and displaced persons in the remote region. The newly formed Council's response to the crisis in Darfur is seen by many as a test of whether it will become a firmer defender of human rights around the globe than its discredited predecessor, the Human Rights Commission. No date has yet been set for a vote on the Darfur resolution, but the Council is due to end its fourth session on March 30. The EU states, however, face opposition from Arab, Muslim and many African states on the Council, some of which wanted no action to be taken on the Williams report. Algeria has submitted, on behalf of African states, a more mildly worded resolution, which while calling for a monitoring team, would restrict it to reviewing the "consistency and current relevance" of past resolutions adopted on Sudan.
