President Bush has signed a new law authorizing him to freeze Sudanese government assets to protest the violence in Sudan's troubled Darfur region.

The so-called "Comprehensive Peace in Sudan Act of 2004" encourages the president to impose targeted sanctions. Among them are a travel ban and a freeze on the assets of government and military officials, and government-controlled businesses.

The mostly non-binding legislation urges Mr. Bush to discourage United Nations members from importing oil from Sudan. It also calls for the United States to assist in the deployment of additional African Union troops Darfur.

The United Nations has described the violence in Sudan's western Darfur region as the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with nearly two million people forced from their homes.

Sudan's government and Darfur rebels recently suspended talks after trading charges of ceasefire violations.

Some information for this report provided by Reuters.