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| Chad rebels fight inside capital | Chad rebels fight inside capital |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thousands of Chadian rebels have entered the capital N'Djamena and are advancing on the presidential palace. | Thousands of Chadian rebels have entered the capital N'Djamena and are advancing on the presidential palace. |
| There has been intense gunfire in the city centre, and a witness said army tanks were burning in the streets. | There has been intense gunfire in the city centre, and a witness said army tanks were burning in the streets. |
| But the country's foreign minister said President Idriss Deby was inside the palace and the situation in the city was under control. | But the country's foreign minister said President Idriss Deby was inside the palace and the situation in the city was under control. |
| The French Foreign Ministry condemned the attempt to "seize power by force", blaming "armed forces from outside". | |
| The Chadian and Sudanese governments accuse each other of backing rebels in each others' territory, and the rebels began their advance on N'Djamena from near Chad's eastern border with Sudan earlier this week. | |
| France called on its citizens in Chad to stay indoors, reversing an earlier order to gather at evacuation points. | France called on its citizens in Chad to stay indoors, reversing an earlier order to gather at evacuation points. |
| The African Union called for an end to the rebels' advance, and said it would expel Chad from the organisation if they took power. | |
| It seems a revolution's going on Katie-Jay Scott Eyewitness in Chad | It seems a revolution's going on Katie-Jay Scott Eyewitness in Chad |
| "The assembly strongly condemns the attacks perpetrated by armed groups against the Chadian government and demands that an immediate end be put to these attacks and resulting bloodshed," the AU said in the final declaration of its summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. | "The assembly strongly condemns the attacks perpetrated by armed groups against the Chadian government and demands that an immediate end be put to these attacks and resulting bloodshed," the AU said in the final declaration of its summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. |
| 'Rebels are winning' | |
| French Defence Ministry spokesman Christophe Pazouk told the BBC the rebel force in the city consisted of several thousand men, and that they had entered the city surprisingly easily. | French Defence Ministry spokesman Christophe Pazouk told the BBC the rebel force in the city consisted of several thousand men, and that they had entered the city surprisingly easily. |
| CHAD TIMELINE June 2005 - Constitutional changes approved allowing president to stand for third termApril 2006 - Hundreds killed as rebels fight government troops on outskirts of N'DjamenaMay 2006 - President Deby wins election boycotted by oppositionJanuary 2008 - EU approves peacekeeping force to protect Darfur refugees from violence in Chad Profile: Idriss Deby | |
| Government forces were defending the presidential palace and several other places, he added. | Government forces were defending the presidential palace and several other places, he added. |
| Eyewitnesses reported heavy weapons fire coming closer to the city centre. | Eyewitnesses reported heavy weapons fire coming closer to the city centre. |
| "From the third-floor we can see smoke coming from about a kilometre and a half away near the presidential palace," US aid worker Katie-Jay Scott told the BBC. | "From the third-floor we can see smoke coming from about a kilometre and a half away near the presidential palace," US aid worker Katie-Jay Scott told the BBC. |
| "The gunfire and artillery shakes the windows of the hotel." | "The gunfire and artillery shakes the windows of the hotel." |
| One resident of a western embassy told Reuters news agency: "Rebels are headed for the palace and are about two blocks from here. The rebels are winning". | One resident of a western embassy told Reuters news agency: "Rebels are headed for the palace and are about two blocks from here. The rebels are winning". |
| The BBC's Stephanie Hancock, recently based in Chad, says insecurity has always been the hallmark of Mr Deby's 17-year rule. | The BBC's Stephanie Hancock, recently based in Chad, says insecurity has always been the hallmark of Mr Deby's 17-year rule. |
| But the tide began to turn in 2005 when he changed the constitution so that he could run for a third term in office, she says. | But the tide began to turn in 2005 when he changed the constitution so that he could run for a third term in office, she says. |
| This prompted mass desertions from the army, and the situation was made worse by the accumulation of oil wealth by Mr Deby and his entourage. | This prompted mass desertions from the army, and the situation was made worse by the accumulation of oil wealth by Mr Deby and his entourage. |
| But there is also friction with Sudan, with both countries backing rebel movements in the other. | But there is also friction with Sudan, with both countries backing rebel movements in the other. |
| THE REBEL COALITION Unified Military Command includes:Union of Forces for Democracy (UFDD) led by Mahamat NouriRally of Forces for Change (RFC) led by Timane ErdimiUFDD-Fundamental led by Abdelwahid Aboud Mackaye 'Living in fear in N'Djamena' | THE REBEL COALITION Unified Military Command includes:Union of Forces for Democracy (UFDD) led by Mahamat NouriRally of Forces for Change (RFC) led by Timane ErdimiUFDD-Fundamental led by Abdelwahid Aboud Mackaye 'Living in fear in N'Djamena' |
| Chadian officials say Khartoum is nervous about the deployment of EU troops in Chad and a joint AU/UN force in Sudan's western region of Darfur. | Chadian officials say Khartoum is nervous about the deployment of EU troops in Chad and a joint AU/UN force in Sudan's western region of Darfur. |
| French involvement | French involvement |
| About 150 French troops have arrived to help evacuate some 1,500 expatriates, the vast majority of whom live in N'Djamena, but the French authorities are now strongly advising their citizens to stay at home. | About 150 French troops have arrived to help evacuate some 1,500 expatriates, the vast majority of whom live in N'Djamena, but the French authorities are now strongly advising their citizens to stay at home. |
| AFP said a French army airbus was preparing to fly to Chad to take part in an eventual evacuation. | AFP said a French army airbus was preparing to fly to Chad to take part in an eventual evacuation. |
| French President Nicolas Sarkozy held a meeting to discuss the crisis late on Friday night with senior ministers and military figures. | French President Nicolas Sarkozy held a meeting to discuss the crisis late on Friday night with senior ministers and military figures. |
| The BBC's Alasdair Sandford, in Paris, says France is directly involved in the crisis. | |
| It dominates the EU force bound for Chad, whose deployment has been delayed because of the fighting. Some 100 troops Austrian and Irish troops had been due to arrive last Thursday. | It dominates the EU force bound for Chad, whose deployment has been delayed because of the fighting. Some 100 troops Austrian and Irish troops had been due to arrive last Thursday. |
| Under a 30-year-old agreement, the French military has also been providing key backing to Chad's government. | Under a 30-year-old agreement, the French military has also been providing key backing to Chad's government. |
| But late last year, one of the rebel groups, the UFDD, declared a "state of war" against French and other foreign forces because it said they were "bringing diplomatic, strategic and logistical aid" to the president. | But late last year, one of the rebel groups, the UFDD, declared a "state of war" against French and other foreign forces because it said they were "bringing diplomatic, strategic and logistical aid" to the president. |
| Are you in Chad? Have you been affected by the fighting? Tell us what is happening where you are by using the form below: | Are you in Chad? Have you been affected by the fighting? Tell us what is happening where you are by using the form below: |