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Chad army chief shot by rebels | Chad army chief shot by rebels |
(4 days later) | |
One of Chad's top army officers has been killed in fighting with rebels in a battle near Chad's border with Sudan. | One of Chad's top army officers has been killed in fighting with rebels in a battle near Chad's border with Sudan. |
Gen Moussa Seugui died after being shot in the shoulder in the south-eastern town of Hadjer Meram, Defence Minister Bichara Issa told the BBC. | Gen Moussa Seugui died after being shot in the shoulder in the south-eastern town of Hadjer Meram, Defence Minister Bichara Issa told the BBC. |
The general was taken to hospital but doctors were unable to save him. | The general was taken to hospital but doctors were unable to save him. |
Mr Issa said the army had lost four of its men and claimed 100 rebels had been killed although there is no independent confirmation of the figures. | Mr Issa said the army had lost four of its men and claimed 100 rebels had been killed although there is no independent confirmation of the figures. |
The BBC's Stephanie Hancock in Chad has been told by military sources that casualties from the fighting were extremely heavy and the actual number may be far higher. | The BBC's Stephanie Hancock in Chad has been told by military sources that casualties from the fighting were extremely heavy and the actual number may be far higher. |
The fighting is part of a week-long offensive by rebels of the recently-formed Union for the Forces of Development and Democracy. | The fighting is part of a week-long offensive by rebels of the recently-formed Union for the Forces of Development and Democracy. |
They have been moving through a series of towns in eastern Chad, clashing with government forces from time to time. Both sides say they have the upper hand in the fighting. | They have been moving through a series of towns in eastern Chad, clashing with government forces from time to time. Both sides say they have the upper hand in the fighting. |
"The humanitarian fallout is extremely serious," UN Undersecretary-General for Peacekeeping Jean-Marie Guehenno has warned. | "The humanitarian fallout is extremely serious," UN Undersecretary-General for Peacekeeping Jean-Marie Guehenno has warned. |
As well as clashes between Chadian soldiers and rebels intent on overthrowing President Idriss Deby, relations between Chad and Sudan have also deteriorated. | As well as clashes between Chadian soldiers and rebels intent on overthrowing President Idriss Deby, relations between Chad and Sudan have also deteriorated. |
Last week, Chad accused Sudan of backing the rebels, and on Saturday accused Khartoum of bombing villages in eastern Chad - a charge Sudan has denied. | Last week, Chad accused Sudan of backing the rebels, and on Saturday accused Khartoum of bombing villages in eastern Chad - a charge Sudan has denied. |
Sudan in turn accuses Chad of backing rebels in its war-torn Darfur region, which has a similar ethnic make-up to eastern Chad. | Sudan in turn accuses Chad of backing rebels in its war-torn Darfur region, which has a similar ethnic make-up to eastern Chad. |
In April, a rebel advance reached the capital, N'Djamena, before being pushed back. | In April, a rebel advance reached the capital, N'Djamena, before being pushed back. |