African Union peacekeepers kill 3 in Darfur

African Union peacekeepers killed three Darfur rioters when a crowd of angry refugees threatened to break into their base in the town of El Geneina, a U.N. official said Monday.

This event marks the first time peacekeepers have shot and killed Darfur civilians...marking a deeper slide into violence and social deterioration in the region. After the riot and subsequent shooting, Sudanese police deployed around the African Union base to protect the peacekeepers, aid workers in said. The refugees protesting at the base were relatives of 30 civilians who were executed by pro-government janjaweed fighters on Saturday...once it became apparent that the people were violent and intended harm to the peacekeepers and the base, the men opened fire--killing 3. This is just the latest incident in a long and bloody history of violence caused by the lack of protection provided by the peacekeepers and the continuing murders perpetrated by the Janjaweed fighters. So much for the working, strong, functional UN the blind Kofi Annan seemed to believe he was leaving. This is just another incident that highlights the weakness and ineffectual nature of the UN as it currently stands.