Chadian rebels deny defeat

2008-06-19 20:36

Ndjamena - Rebel forces in Chad on Thursday denied reports they had been defeated in a key battle, saying they had lost 27 men, and not the 162 claimed by the government.

"We have had 27 martyrs and 63 injured," said Ali Gueddei, spokesperson for the rebel National Alliance, who was reached by telephone from Ndjamena.

The Chadian army on Wednesday had said it won a "decisive victory" by blocking a rebel advance in the eastern provincial capital of Am Zoer.

"The army's toll is false," said Gueddei. "The battle was not decisive. It is a trick to boost the morale of their troops. We will continue the fight..."

The chief of army staff, General Touka Ramadan Kore, on Wednesday told reporters his men had halted a week-long insurgent offensive.

Calling the rebels "Sudanese mercenaries", he said three government soldiers had died in the counter-attack, but said his forces had managed to recover some 40 military vehicles seized by the rebels in an earlier raid.

Serious rebel activity

Chadian rebels launched a fresh offensive against the regime of President Idriss Deby Itno on June 11, launching raids on eastern towns.

It was the most serious rebel activity since insurgents reached gates of the presidential palace in the capital in a February offensive, before being repelled by government troops.

Gueddei warned on Thursday that the rebels were not finished.

"For the moment, we are regrouping our forces in the region of Am Zoer. Those who say it is over are wrong ... The objective remains Ndjamena. Wait a few days," he said.

- AFP