President Bush finally signed the Sudan Peace Act in October to pressure the Sudanese government to end that nation's 19-year civil war between the Muslim-dominated North and the mainly animist and Christian South. The Act, supported by a coalition of liberals, conservatives, Christians, Jews, and anti-slavery groups, condemns human rights violations by Sudan's government, such as the practice of slavery and the use of emergency food as a weapon of war. If Sudan's government fails to negotiate in good faith with rebel forces, President Bush is authorized to impose economic sanctions—including blocking access to oil revenue. Capital market sanctions, which would have prevented oil companies doing business in Sudan from being listed on U.S. stock exchanges, were dropped from the final bill.
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