Sudan denied AU position: no honors for supporters of genocide.

The African Union retained its integrity this week when it denied Sudan's bid to head the AU for 2007. The leadership position was instead given to Ghana, and the Union Chief, Alpha Oumar Konaré, used his opening speech to attack Sudan for orchestrating the attacks on civilians. "We appeal to the government of Sudan to stop attacking and bombarding Darfur and restore peace," he said.

This comes shortly after the few remaining aid organizations have declared in a report to the UN that they are just "holding the line" and may be forced to leave because of increasing violence. One aid worker said, "We simply cannot do our jobs if our lives are threatened."

Yesterday, two major French aid organizations abandoned their stations, leaving behind 130,000 Internally Displaced Persons after two of their workers were brutally raped, and others held at gun point, while rebel factions stole materials, trucks, computers, and cell phones. Aid organizations have requested security assistance to allow them to continue their vital work, but none has been granted.