2 Sudanese rebels charged with attack on African peacekeepers appear at war crimes court

2 Sudanese rebels appear at war crimes court

AMSTERDAM — Two men suspected in a deadly 2007 attack against African Union peacekeepers in Darfur are appearing before war crimes judges in The Hague.

Abdallah Banda Abakaer Nourain and Saleh Mohammed Jerbo Jamus voluntarily surrendered to the International Criminal Court. They are accused of commanding a 1,000-strong rebel force in the assault Sept. 29, 2007, on an AU base in the troubled region of western Sudan.

Prosecutors say 12 peacekeepers were killed and eight wounded, while a large amount of equipment was destroyed at the Haskanita base in northern Darfur.

A third rebel indicted in the Haskanita attack was released last year for lack of evidence.