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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| French army clash with CAR rebels | French army clash with CAR rebels |
| (1 day later) | |
| French forces have clashed with rebels in the Central African Republic (CAR) during a government offensive to regain control of the northern town of Birao. | French forces have clashed with rebels in the Central African Republic (CAR) during a government offensive to regain control of the northern town of Birao. |
| A French army spokesman said troops had reacted in self defence when they came under rebel fire near Birao's airport. | A French army spokesman said troops had reacted in self defence when they came under rebel fire near Birao's airport. |
| Earlier this month, France promised to provide logistics and intelligence to CAR in their struggle against rebels who have recently seized several towns. | Earlier this month, France promised to provide logistics and intelligence to CAR in their struggle against rebels who have recently seized several towns. |
| The UN says thousands of people have fled fighting in the region. | The UN says thousands of people have fled fighting in the region. |
| The CAR government says it has retaken Birao, 800km (500 miles) north-east of the capital, Bangui, but fighting is reported to be continuing. | The CAR government says it has retaken Birao, 800km (500 miles) north-east of the capital, Bangui, but fighting is reported to be continuing. |
| Birao is near eastern Chad and Sudan's western Darfur region and has been plagued by violence and insecurity in recent years. | Birao is near eastern Chad and Sudan's western Darfur region and has been plagued by violence and insecurity in recent years. |
| The government says the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR) rebels are operating from Darfur with the support of the Sudanese authorities. | The government says the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR) rebels are operating from Darfur with the support of the Sudanese authorities. |
| Denial | Denial |
| French armed forces spokesman Christophe Prazuck said a French military transport plane flew CAR troops to Birao to retake the airport on Monday. | French armed forces spokesman Christophe Prazuck said a French military transport plane flew CAR troops to Birao to retake the airport on Monday. |
| The UN says thousands of people have fled the fighting in the north | The UN says thousands of people have fled the fighting in the north |
| "During this operation, the troops were attacked and retaliated. So French troops shot in self defence at rebels who were attacking them," Reuters news agency reports him as saying. | "During this operation, the troops were attacked and retaliated. So French troops shot in self defence at rebels who were attacking them," Reuters news agency reports him as saying. |
| Rebel spokesman Diego Albator Yao has denied that rebels had lost control of the town and said French soldiers were occupying Birao airport. | Rebel spokesman Diego Albator Yao has denied that rebels had lost control of the town and said French soldiers were occupying Birao airport. |
| "Our men are still there, but we don't need to attack the French because they are not interfering in our domestic problem," he told the BBC's Joseph Benamse by phone. | "Our men are still there, but we don't need to attack the French because they are not interfering in our domestic problem," he told the BBC's Joseph Benamse by phone. |
| He claimed the rebels had captured another town, Ndele, and were heading for the capital. | He claimed the rebels had captured another town, Ndele, and were heading for the capital. |
| Our Bangui correspondent says France recently added 100 troops to its 200 soldiers stationed in CAR. | Our Bangui correspondent says France recently added 100 troops to its 200 soldiers stationed in CAR. |
| Under bilateral accords, France's military provides logistical and intelligence support to some of its former colonies in Africa. | |
| The UFDR rebels say they are fighting against corruption and mismanagement under President Francois Bozize, who seized power in a 2003 coup. | The UFDR rebels say they are fighting against corruption and mismanagement under President Francois Bozize, who seized power in a 2003 coup. |
| The United Nations says 46,000 people have crossed over to neighbouring Chad because of the unrest and another 90,000 are internally displaced within eastern CAR. | The United Nations says 46,000 people have crossed over to neighbouring Chad because of the unrest and another 90,000 are internally displaced within eastern CAR. |