Chad govt 'in control'

2006-04-13 10:57

N'Djamena - President Idriss Deby declared victory following a rebel attack on the capital on Thursday, telling Chadians that his government remains in control of the country.

Deby, speaking on state-run radio, said troops destroyed a rebel column that attempted to infiltrate N'djamena before dawn in a bid to overthrow his government.

"The situation is under control," he assured Chadians, following three hours of fighting that included attack helicopters, tanks and artillery.

Only sporadic gunfire could be heard around the capital following his announcement. Residents in the eastern part of the city said fighting there had completely stopped, while in the northeast, residents said government troops were conducting mop-up operations, pursuing suspected rebels.

Conflicted history

Deby also reiterated his claim that the rebels, known as the United Force for Change, were mercenaries hired by Sudan to overthrow him - a charge the Sudanese have denied.

"In the hours to come, we will gather all of the evidence that the Sudanese government is behind the rebels," Deby said.

He also said his re-election campaign would continue, and that he would appear at a rally later on Thursday.

The fighting began before dawn, with residents in eastern neighbourhoods waking to heavy gunfire. The initial fighting appeared to be coming from a defensive position constructed Wednesday on the road leading into N'djamena from the east.

Later, Chadian attack helicopters fired rockets at rebel positions around the capital and tank fire and mortar rounds echoed through the city as government troops attempted to hold off the rebels. Columns of thick black smoke could be seen rising from the centre of the city.

France sent 150 troops on Wednesday to bolster its contingent of about 1 200 already in Chad, a former French colony, to protect about 1 500 French citizens there, the French Defence Ministry said in a statement in Paris.

The French government has said in the past it will not directly intervene in internal politics, but would provide logistical support to the government.

On Wednesday, Chadian troops spilled into the streets and began constructing defences all around N'djamena after three days of attacks in the countryside by rebels and unconfirmed reports that a rebel column had moved to within 100km of N'djamena by late Wednesday afternoon.

While it was unclear whether the rebels had enough troops to overthrow the government on their own, there have been several coup attempts against Deby, and there was some question about the loyalty of his troops since the rebels were being led by several former army commanders.

The area has been volatile since the outbreak of a rebellion in Sudan's western Darfur region sent an exodus of Sudanese refugees into Chad.

Chad is home to about 10 million people, mostly of Arab origin. The country became independent from France in 1960, but has been wracked by conflict for most of its history.

- AP