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Chad claims victory in rebellion Chad claims victory in rebellion
(about 5 hours later)
Chad has won a "decisive victory" over rebels in the east of the country, Defence Minister Adoum Younousmi said after two days of fierce fighting.Chad has won a "decisive victory" over rebels in the east of the country, Defence Minister Adoum Younousmi said after two days of fierce fighting.
Officials say 220 rebels were killed and 120 captured. Twenty-one soldiers are also reported killed. There is no independent confirmation of the claims.Officials say 220 rebels were killed and 120 captured. Twenty-one soldiers are also reported killed. There is no independent confirmation of the claims.
Chad rebels have been trying to topple President Idriss Deby. The rebels have been trying to topple Chadian President Idriss Deby.
Chad's government accuses Sudan of sending armed rebels over the border from Darfur, a claim Khartoum rejects.Chad's government accuses Sudan of sending armed rebels over the border from Darfur, a claim Khartoum rejects.
Skirmishes have been continuing near the town of Goz Beida.
The BBC's Celeste Hicks says the rebels from the Union of Resistance Forces (UFR) are essentially in retreat, with a convoy of around 300 vehicles attempting to return to their bases in the Sudanese border region.
'Mopping up''Mopping up'
"It is a decisive victory," Mr Younousmi told AFP news agency. "We are continuing our mopping-up operations as far as the [Sudanese] border. With the deployment in place, few can escape.""It is a decisive victory," Mr Younousmi told AFP news agency. "We are continuing our mopping-up operations as far as the [Sudanese] border. With the deployment in place, few can escape."
The defence minister now says it will take two to three years for the rebels to reconstitute themselves. The Chadian military says more than 100 rebel vehicles were destroyed in a battle on Thursday near the eastern town of Am Dam.
The government says it has killed more than 200 of the fighters, although our correspondent says she only saw about 50 corpses around the remains of burnt-out rebel vehicles.
The defence minister says it will take two to three years for the rebels from the Union of Resistance Forces (UFR) to reconstitute themselves.
Skirmishes are continuing between the Chadian army and rebels, despite the government's claims that Am Dam has been completely secured, the BBC's Celeste Hicks reports from the region.
Captured leader
Hamouda Beki, the rebellion's deputy military commander, was among those captured during the offensive.
The army says it has captured around 120 rebel fighters
As he was being taken in for questioning, he told the BBC the rebels would continue their offensive.
The UFR, which was formed in January, says its ultimate goal is to reach the Chadian capital, N'Djamena.
On Friday, the UN Security Council called for a halt to the fighting, saying "any attempt at destabilization of Chad by force is unacceptable".On Friday, the UN Security Council called for a halt to the fighting, saying "any attempt at destabilization of Chad by force is unacceptable".
Goz Beida is one of two towns used as bases by most relief agencies working in Chad to help 450,000 refugees and displaced people. Am Dam is 110km (68 miles) north of Goz Beida and more than 100km (62 miles) south of Abeche, the two towns used as bases by most relief agencies working in Chad to help 450,000 refugees and displaced people.
Aid agencies in the region have warned that a number of people in refugee camps could die if the violence continues.Aid agencies in the region have warned that a number of people in refugee camps could die if the violence continues.
The UFR, which was formed in January, says its ultimate goal is to reach the Chadian capital, N'Djamena.