China urged the international community on Thursday to show patience with Sudan over the strife in its Darfur region.

The United States imposed unilateral sanctions on Sudan this week and sought support for an international arms embargo out of frustration at Sudan's refusal to end what President George W. Bush called the genocide in Darfur.

But China said on Thursday new sanctions would hurt efforts to implement a U.N. peace plan for the western Sudanese region.

"New sanctions against Sudan would only complicate the issue," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a regular news briefing. "China appeals to all parties to maintain restraint and patience."  

"Relevant parties are making joint efforts to win positive achievements on the Darfur issue," Jiang said.

Sudan has agreed in principle to the "Annan peace plan", which proposes sending in U.N. troops to bolster an African Union peacekeeping force, but has delayed implementing the package.

The Save Darfur Coalition said the delays were fuelling continuing violence.

"Sudan has used a series of delaying tactics, and outright false actions, to prevent the deployment of the needed peacekeeping force," the group said in a statement.