Darfur Peacekeeper Base Attacked; 12+ Killed, Dozens Missing

The African Union has been trying to restore peace to the Darfur region of Sudan, but the Sudanese government in Khartoum continues to provide support to militias, and opposition groups aren't taking too kindly to the AU presence either, believing that the AU is supporting the government position.

It's a no-win situation for the AU, which now finds itself in the middle of a conflict on the heels of the Darfur genocide.

More than 50 AU peacekeepers and support personnel are missing in action since the attack on the base in northern Darfur just after sunset on Saturday.

"This is the heaviest loss of life and the biggest attack on the African Union mission," said AU spokesman Noureddine Mezni, who could not confirm the casualty figures because the fighting was ongoing.

Officers in the AU force said that a force of 1,000 rebels from the Sudan Liberation Army stormed the AU base in the town of Haskanita just after the sunset fastbreaking meal during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

"There is a war going on between the rebels and the government, and the AU is crunched in the middle," said a senior AU officer who asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Darfur rebels have grown increasingly hostile to the AU peacekeepers saying the force is not neutral and is favoring the government side. There have been several ambushes of AU forces in the past year on AU force blamed on rebels.