UNITED NATIONS, July 30: With Pakistan and China abstaining, the UN Security Council voted on Friday for a US-drafted revised resolution with a threat of economic consequences on Sudan in 30 days if it does not disarm and prosecute marauding militia in Darfur.

The vote was 13 for the resolution with two abstentions and no negative vote. China and Pakistan, who opposed the threat of consequences, abstained, saying Khartoum needed more time to stop the violence.

However, a late night Reuters report quoted Sudan's Information Minister Al-Zahawi Ibrahim Malik as rejecting the Security Council resolution. The final version of the text deleted the word sanctions but kept the threat of economic or diplomatic action against the African nation unless it disarms the Arab militias blamed for killing thousands of black African farmers.

The resolution asked UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to report every 30 days and expressed its intention to consider further actions, including measures as provided for in the Article 41 of the UN Charter on the Government of Sudan in the event of non-compliance.

The Article 41 provision allows the "interruption" of economic, transport, communications or diplomatic measures, which amounts to sanctions, Reuters adds. The resolution, co-sponsored by Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Chile and Romania, demands that Khartoum disarm and prosecute within 30 days militia known as Janjaweed or the Security Council will consider punitive measures.

But China's deputy UN ambassador, Zhang Yishan, said this was still too harsh and was "not helpful in resolving the situation in Darfur and may further complicate the situation." The resolution places an immediate weapons embargo on all armed groups in Darfur, where government forces and Arab Janjaweed militia have been battling a rebellion.