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Clashes in Chad shatter ceasefire Chad fighting shatters ceasefire
(about 9 hours later)
Heavy fighting has broken out in eastern Chad between rebels and government forces two days after rebels announced a ceasefire had expired.Heavy fighting has broken out in eastern Chad between rebels and government forces two days after rebels announced a ceasefire had expired.
The clashes were about 40km (25 miles) from the volatile border with Sudan's Darfur region, in an area where 4,000 EU peacekeepers are to be deployed.The clashes were about 40km (25 miles) from the volatile border with Sudan's Darfur region, in an area where 4,000 EU peacekeepers are to be deployed.
The army said it had killed several hundred rebels and destroyed many vehicles in several hours of fighting.
A rebel leader said 17 of his men were dead but claimed 100 soldiers had died.
The fighting ends several months of relative calm and comes one month after a ceasefire was brokered in Libya.The fighting ends several months of relative calm and comes one month after a ceasefire was brokered in Libya.
There are now fears that security in the area will deteriorate further. There are now fears that security in the area will deteriorate further, says the BBC's Stephanie Hancock in Chad's capital, Ndjamena.
Heavy gunfireHeavy gunfire
The combat, which is reported to have been very heavy, took place near the small towns of Forchana and Hadjer Hadid, 70 km (44 miles) east of Abeche. The combat, which is reported to have been very heavy, took place near the small towns of Forchana and Hadjer Hadid, 70 km (45 miles) east of Abeche.
Aid workers based in Forchana reported hearing both machine gun and heavy arms fire for much of the morning.Aid workers based in Forchana reported hearing both machine gun and heavy arms fire for much of the morning.
Mahamat Nouri, the head of the rebel movement, Union Forces for Democracy and Development, said the Chadian army initiated the fighting. The army attacked a rebel column advancing towards Abeche, a military spokesman said in a statement broadcast on radio and television.
Mr Nouri told the BBC that government troops had launched a ground offensive against their positions. "The security and defence forces carried out a total and definitive annihilation of this column," the spokesman said.
Neither the rebels nor the government could confirm the number of casualties. "The partial (rebel) toll is around 50 vehicles seized, around 40 vehicles destroyed, several hundred dead and several prisoners of war."
The rebels, who are fighting to overthrow President Idriss Deby, say the government has not done enough to negotiate the peace treaty and announced at the weekend they would break the ceasefire. No indication of government casualties was given but a leader of the Union Forces for Democracy and Development (UFDD) rebel group said only 17 rebels had been killed.
"We have killed more than 100 from among the army ranks," Abakar Tollimi, the UFDD's secretary general, told the AFP news agency.
The head of the UFDD, Mahamat Nouri, told the BBC the Chadian army initiated the fighting.
A French military air base in Abeche has been turned into an emergency hospital to treat wounded Chadian soldiers, Reuters news agency said.
Volatile border
The rebels, who are fighting to overthrow President Idriss Deby, said the government has failed to honour the peace deal and announced at the weekend they would break the ceasefire.
The government said the UFDD and another rebel group, the Rally of Forces for Change (RFC), broke the peace accord by crossing into Chad from Sudan.
Eastern Chad is currently preparing to receive 4,000 EU troops early next year.Eastern Chad is currently preparing to receive 4,000 EU troops early next year.
They will be charged with protecting the volatile border with Sudan's Darfur region.They will be charged with protecting the volatile border with Sudan's Darfur region.