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'Elders' in landmark Darfur visit 'Elders' in landmark Darfur visit
(about 7 hours later)
A delegation of influential elder statesmen led by Archbishop Desmond Tutu is travelling to Darfur to try to find solutions to the conflict. A delegation of influential elder statesmen led by Archbishop Desmond Tutu has been visiting Darfur to try to find solutions to the conflict.
The "Elders" will be talking to local community leaders and to displaced people living in camps. The "Elders" have been talking to local community leaders and to displaced people living in camps.
The visit comes three days after an attack on the African Union base in southern Darfur left 10 soldiers dead.The visit comes three days after an attack on the African Union base in southern Darfur left 10 soldiers dead.
The AU says it is furious and will be reviewing the mandate of its force after the unprovoked attack.
At least 200,000 people have died and some 2m forced from their homes during the four year conflict.At least 200,000 people have died and some 2m forced from their homes during the four year conflict.
The BBC's Amber Henshaw, who is travelling with the delegation, says they hope to lend their strength to those who are determined to bring and end to the devastation. The chairman of the AU peace and security council, James Kalilangwe, said a joint inquiry by the AU and the United Nations would look into improving camp defences as well as the force's mandate.
But Archbishop Tutu has warned against unrealistic expectations, saying: "The Elders do not want to raise anyone's hopes during this visit". "The force should be there to defend itself and even engage in hot pursuit if necessary," he said.
Travelling in the delegation are the former US President Jimmy Carter, veteran UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi and children's rights advocate Graça Machel, better known as Mrs Nelson Mandela. The AU's Peace and Security Commissioner, Said Djinnit, added that all the troop contributing countries were committed to their mission in Darfur despite the difficulties.
Following talks with the Sudanese government in Khartoum on Monday, the delegation travelled to Juba in southern Sudan to assess the comprehensive peace agreement signed between the North and South before flying to El Fasher in Darfur. Southern Sudan
There they are expected to be briefed on the latest violence, including the most recent attack - the worst on AU forces in the province. From Khartoum, the Elders flew first to Juba in southern Sudan to assess the situation.
They met the Southern Sudanese President Salva Kiir, who urged them to use their influence with the government in Khartoum to implement the peace deal, signed in 2005 to end the 20-year civil war between north and south, but not yet put into full effect.
The BBC's Amber Henshaw, who is travelling with the delegation, says the deal has been looking increasingly shaky over recent months.
President Kiir underlined the many challenges ahead, including border demarcation and the redeployment of northern troops, but he also pointed out that any failure of peace in the south would have a devastating effect on Darfur.
Battle for HaskanitaBattle for Haskanita
Details are finally emerging of the intensity of Saturday's attack on the AU base at Haskanita. Details of the intensity of Saturday's attack on the AU base at Haskanita have emerged.
AU soldiers tried to fight off the Darfuri rebels but were over-runAU soldiers tried to fight off the Darfuri rebels but were over-run
AU soldiers told AP news agency that a large force numbering up to 1,000 well-equipped Darfuri rebels attacked the AU outpost at dusk, catching the 157 soldiers and support staff by surprise.AU soldiers told AP news agency that a large force numbering up to 1,000 well-equipped Darfuri rebels attacked the AU outpost at dusk, catching the 157 soldiers and support staff by surprise.
Rockets started falling on the base and an armoured personnel carrier took a direct hit as the beleaguered AU force, mainly composed of Nigerian soldiers, fought off the initial attack.Rockets started falling on the base and an armoured personnel carrier took a direct hit as the beleaguered AU force, mainly composed of Nigerian soldiers, fought off the initial attack.
The rebels then mounted a second attack, using armoured vehicles and firing rocket-propelled grenades. The battle raged until around 0400 local time when the AU forces ran out of ammunition and were overrun.The rebels then mounted a second attack, using armoured vehicles and firing rocket-propelled grenades. The battle raged until around 0400 local time when the AU forces ran out of ammunition and were overrun.
One of the soldiers told AP: "Once we ran out of ammunition, we all laid down in that ditch."One of the soldiers told AP: "Once we ran out of ammunition, we all laid down in that ditch."
As morning broke the Sudanese army arrived and the rebels withdrew, leaving behind 10 dead and seven injured.As morning broke the Sudanese army arrived and the rebels withdrew, leaving behind 10 dead and seven injured.
SLA fighters have broken into numerous splinter factionsSLA fighters have broken into numerous splinter factions
First reports said up to 47 AU soldiers were unaccounted for, the figure was later revised down to 23 and by late Monday another 20 had reached another AU base, AP reports.First reports said up to 47 AU soldiers were unaccounted for, the figure was later revised down to 23 and by late Monday another 20 had reached another AU base, AP reports.
"(The survivors) are in a state of shock", said AU mission chief Rodolphe Adada."(The survivors) are in a state of shock", said AU mission chief Rodolphe Adada.
The new Commander of the future hybrid United Nations-AU peacekeeping force in Darfur, General Martin Agwai, told the BBC from Haskanita on Monday that he was convinced the attackers were a splinter group who had broken away from a faction of the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), known as the SLA United.The new Commander of the future hybrid United Nations-AU peacekeeping force in Darfur, General Martin Agwai, told the BBC from Haskanita on Monday that he was convinced the attackers were a splinter group who had broken away from a faction of the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), known as the SLA United.
International reaction Sanctions warning
In the aftermath of Saturday's rebel attack on the AU monitors at Haskanita, the United States has threatened further sanctions against both the Sudanese government and rebel groups if they block the Darfur peace efforts. In the aftermath of the attack, the United States has threatened further sanctions against both the Sudanese government and rebel groups if they block the Darfur peace efforts.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the punitive measures could include travel bans and financial restrictions on individuals.State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the punitive measures could include travel bans and financial restrictions on individuals.
A Senegalese soldier serving with the UN monitors was one of those killed, prompting Senegal to warn it could withdraw its peacekeeping troops altogether.
Botswana, however, which also lost one soldier, said it remained committed to the peacekeeping operation.
Human Rights Watch has described the killings as a war crime, and has called for an immediate investigation by the AU and UN.Human Rights Watch has described the killings as a war crime, and has called for an immediate investigation by the AU and UN.