The UN Human Rights Council has accused Sudan of orchestrating gross human rights abuses in Darfur and engaging in war crimes that targeted civilians.
Sudan's government has 'orchestrated and participated in these crimes,' said a long-awaited report by the council's investigative mission to Darfur that was led by Nobel peace laureate and anti-landmines campaigner Jody Williams.
The report said: 'The situation is characterised by gross and systematic violations of human rights and grave breaches of international law.
'War crimes and crimes against humanity continue across the region.'
Ms Williams described the response of the international community as 'pathetic' and said threats made against the Sudanese government were hollow.
The International Criminal Court has implicated two Sudanese officials for involvement in the humanitarian crisis in the western region of Darfur that has claimed at least 200,000 lives and displaced 2.5m others.
The mission was unable to carry out investigations in Darfur itself, as Khartoum refused to grant visas, saying some of the team's members were 'biased' against Sudan.
Government supported militia groups: report
The report added: 'Witnesses, victims and observers we met repeatedly confirmed joint action between government forces and armed militia in assaulting civilian targets in Darfur.'
It called on Sudan to 'end the targeting of civilians in Darfur, cease all support for Janjaweed/militia forces, and proceed with the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of such forces'.
The mission, which highlighted the failure of the international community in halting the violence in Darfur, said rebel groups in the region shared some responsibility for the rights abuses, including rape and torture.
Khartoum's provision of arms to the Arab Janjaweed and other militias is a key factor behind growing tensions between tribal groups and communities, victims and witnesses told members of the mission.
The Darfur report kicked off a three-week session of the UN's Human Rights Council, which replaced the largely discredited Human Rights Commission in 2006.
