Sudan ? Jimmy Carter, Desmond Tutu and several other prominent figures gave Sudan’s government a rare upbraiding on its own turf Thursday, criticizing it for the violence in Darfur.

Foreign visitors usually speak cautiously about Darfur’s misery while on Sudanese territory to avoid irking the government.

But the group of prominent personalities including former statesmen and international officials was sharp and direct in closing comments after a two-day tour of Darfur. Their visit was the debut mission of a group of “Elders” chaired by former South African President Nelson Mandela who are trying to use their influence to bring peace to conflict zones. Mandela was too frail to join the trip.