Patrolling the vast, barren wastelands of West Sudan, General Agwai's troops tread an uneasy line between rebels and government forces. His task is to prevent the violence that has already killed 300,000 civilians and threatens to engulf Sudan in civil war. The General is head of the UN-led African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur. 'But presently in Darfur there is no peace to keep', says General Agwai dryly. 'That makes our job difficult'. The situation for the peacekeepers is deteriorating. 'We're now being targeted', Agwai tells us. In July this year peacekeeping forces were attacked in a brutal and highly organised way. Agwai believes that the government-backed Janjaweed were behind the attack. So does the UN. In peace talks Agwai's forces are criticised by both the rebels and the government but Agwai points out that talking is preferable to fighting. 'I love it when I hear everyone criticising us', he says cheerfully. 'That means we are neutral'. An impressive account of courage under fire.