Ten members of Sudan's pro-government militia have been sentenced to have a hand and a foot amputated for their role in attacks in Darfur. In the first convictions of members of the Janjaweed militia, they were also sentenced to six years in prison for offences including murder and robbery. Tens of thousands have died in Darfur, and more than 1m have fled their homes in the face of militia attacks. Aid agencies warn that thousands more could die from hunger and disease. Meanwhile, human rights group Amnesty International has accused the Janjaweed of using mass rape in their conflict with Darfur's non-Arab groups. **Sharia law*** The 10 convictions were passed by a court in the South Darfur capital, Nyala. The men will have their left hand and right foot cut off, according to Sudan's version of Islamic Sharia law. It is not clear when the sentences will be carried out. The Sudan Media Centre, close to the government, reports that another similar case will be heard later. Girls as young as eight and women of 80 have been raped, says Amnesty International, which wants an inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity. Peace talks between the government and Darfur rebels broke down on Saturday. Amnesty accuses the international community of not doing enough to protect women in Darfur and also in refugee camps in neighbouring Chad, where many have fled. The human rights group also directly accuses the Sudanese government of supporting the attacks by the Janjaweed militia. But in a BBC interview, the Sudanese ambassador to London, Dr Hasan Abdin, denied his government was complicit in the attacks and described Amnesty's evidence as "flimsy and exaggerated". He called for a thorough investigation into any sexual abuse in Darfur. Amnesty calls for an international commission of inquiry into the conflict in Darfur, including claims that the widespread rapes are part of a campaign of genocide against the region's non-Arab population. **PHOTO CAPTION*** A Sudanese Army soldier guards close to his machine gun in the Zam-Zam displaced camp from the Darfur region of Sudan near El-Fasher, Sudan. (AFP)