LONDON (AP) - The international community must deploy a robust peacekeeping force to protect women in Darfur from rape, a group of prominent stateswomen said Saturday.

In a letter published in newspapers around the world to coincide with the Global Day for Darfur, the women, including former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and children's rights campaigner Graca Machel, said rape and sexual violence are ''being used on a daily basis as weapons of war'' in Sudan's western Darfur region.

''Women and young girls live in constant fear of attack,'' the letter said, but the Sudanese government is either ''unwilling or unable to protect its own civilians.''

Other signatories include U.N. Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, former French Prime Minister Edith Cresson, Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi and Sudanese academic and writer Fatima Babiker Mahmoud.

Events are being held in 40 countries Saturday to mark the Global Day for Darfur, where more than 200,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million driven from their homes since ethnic African rebels rose up against the government in 2003.

The government is accused of unleashing the janjaweed - Arab tribal fighters - to help it put down the rebellion, and the janjaweed are blamed for the worst atrocities against civilians during the conflict.

AP-ES-12-08-06 1910EST