Chad closes Sudan consulate
2005-10-04 11:58
N'Djamena - Chad has closed its consulate in Sudan's Darfur region more than a week after Sudanese militia crossed from the region and killed at least 36 Chadians before going back to their country, the state radio reported.
Authorities have also asked Sudan to close its consulate in eastern Chad because security has deteriorated in the region bordering the two countries, according to a Foreign Ministry statement read on the radio late on Monday.
On Thursday, President Idriss Deby accused Sudanese militia involved in the Darfur conflict in neighbouring Sudan of killing scores of Chadians on September 26 before crossing back into Sudan.
Deby said the militia were well-armed and dressed in uniforms, apparently referring to Sudan's pro-government Arab militia, known as Janjaweed, who are accused of committing widespread abuses against ethnic Africans in Darfur.
Sudan has previously accused Chad of backing Darfur rebels, who mainly come from Deby's Zaghawa tribe. Darfur rebels have operated from Chad.
In April, Chadian officials accused Sudan of recruiting, training and arming 3 000 Chadian rebels near their border in an effort to destabilise Chad.
In the same month, a Chadian diplomat suffered multiple gunshot wounds during an ambush in Darfur. He was evacuated to Chad's capital, N'Djamena, for treatment.
The Darfur crisis began when rebels took up arms against what they saw as years of state neglect and discrimination against Sudanese of African origin. Sudan's government is accused of using the Janjaweed to unleash a campaign of murder, rape, arson and looting in an effort to stamp out the rebellion.
Chad has taken in some 200 000 refugees from the two-year conflict, and another 1.8 million are estimated to be sheltering in camps within Sudan. About 180 000 people have been killed - many from hunger and disease.
- AP