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| Battle for control of Chad palace | Battle for control of Chad palace |
| (5 days later) | |
| Rebels in Chad have seized control of large parts of the capital N'Djamena, and say they have surrounded the presidential palace. | Rebels in Chad have seized control of large parts of the capital N'Djamena, and say they have surrounded the presidential palace. |
| But Chad's ambassador to Ethiopia said the city had not fallen and President Idriss Deby was "fine" in his palace. | But Chad's ambassador to Ethiopia said the city had not fallen and President Idriss Deby was "fine" in his palace. |
| There are unconfirmed reports from Libya that rebels have agreed to a ceasefire brokered by Colonel Gaddafi. | There are unconfirmed reports from Libya that rebels have agreed to a ceasefire brokered by Colonel Gaddafi. |
| On Saturday evening, France, which has 1,500 troops in Chad, began evacuating some foreign nationals. | On Saturday evening, France, which has 1,500 troops in Chad, began evacuating some foreign nationals. |
| The French foreign ministry has condemned the rebel attack, blaming "armed forces from outside". | The French foreign ministry has condemned the rebel attack, blaming "armed forces from outside". |
| Both the Chadian and Sudanese governments support rebels in each others' territory. | Both the Chadian and Sudanese governments support rebels in each others' territory. |
| Enlarge Map Abderamane Khoulamala, a spokesman for the rebels, told the BBC the rebels had "virtually taken power" and government troops were "refusing to fight". | Enlarge Map Abderamane Khoulamala, a spokesman for the rebels, told the BBC the rebels had "virtually taken power" and government troops were "refusing to fight". |
| But a French military spokesman, Col Thierry Burkhard, told AP news agency it appeared that Mr Deby had succeeded in containing the rebels at his palace and was "even in the process of pushing them back". | But a French military spokesman, Col Thierry Burkhard, told AP news agency it appeared that Mr Deby had succeeded in containing the rebels at his palace and was "even in the process of pushing them back". |
| Looting | Looting |
| There was heavy fighting throughout Saturday after thousands of rebels entered N'Djamena in the morning, after beginning their advance on the city from near Chad's eastern border with Sudan earlier this week . | There was heavy fighting throughout Saturday after thousands of rebels entered N'Djamena in the morning, after beginning their advance on the city from near Chad's eastern border with Sudan earlier this week . |
| Intense gunfire was heard in the city centre. A witness told the BBC that 30 army tanks were burning in the streets. | Intense gunfire was heard in the city centre. A witness told the BBC that 30 army tanks were burning in the streets. |
| There were reports of outbreaks of looting, and of residents cheering on the rebel forces in some areas of the city. | There were reports of outbreaks of looting, and of residents cheering on the rebel forces in some areas of the city. |
| President Deby sparked anger by changing the constitution | President Deby sparked anger by changing the constitution |
| A bomb hit the residence of Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Chad, killing the wife and daughter of an embassy employee, the Saudi foreign ministry said. | A bomb hit the residence of Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Chad, killing the wife and daughter of an embassy employee, the Saudi foreign ministry said. |
| But witnesses report that as night fell the fighting subsided, with just sporadic gunfire now being heard. | But witnesses report that as night fell the fighting subsided, with just sporadic gunfire now being heard. |
| Gabriel Stauring, a US aid worker trapped inside a hotel in the centre of N'Djamena, told the BBC news website that he and the other guests were spending the night together in the hotel's dining room. | Gabriel Stauring, a US aid worker trapped inside a hotel in the centre of N'Djamena, told the BBC news website that he and the other guests were spending the night together in the hotel's dining room. |
| He said that some people had already been evacuated, but that he had been advised by the US embassy to remain in the hotel until morning. | He said that some people had already been evacuated, but that he had been advised by the US embassy to remain in the hotel until morning. |
| He said that there had been a heavy attack on the building earlier in the afternoon, but that it has been relatively quiet since. | He said that there had been a heavy attack on the building earlier in the afternoon, but that it has been relatively quiet since. |
| Ceasefire claim | Ceasefire claim |
| The Libyan news agency said that rebel leader Mahamat Nouri had agreed to a ceasefire brokered by the Libyan leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. | The Libyan news agency said that rebel leader Mahamat Nouri had agreed to a ceasefire brokered by the Libyan leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. |
| The African Union has charged Libya with overseeing the response to the rebellion in Chad, which was condemned at the end of the organisation's summit in Ethiopia. | The African Union has charged Libya with overseeing the response to the rebellion in Chad, which was condemned at the end of the organisation's summit in Ethiopia. |
| 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 'Revolution's going on'Profile: Idriss Deby | 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 'Revolution's going on'Profile: Idriss Deby |
| The Union's new head, President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, warned that if the rebellion succeeded, the country would be suspended from the AU until normality was restored. | The Union's new head, President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, warned that if the rebellion succeeded, the country would be suspended from the AU until normality was restored. |
| The BBC's Stephanie Hancock, recently based in Chad, says insecurity has been the hallmark of Mr Deby's 17-year rule. | The BBC's Stephanie Hancock, recently based in Chad, says insecurity has been the hallmark of Mr Deby's 17-year rule. |
| In 2005, he changed the constitution so that he could run for a third term in office, which sparked mass desertions from the army. | In 2005, he changed the constitution so that he could run for a third term in office, which sparked mass desertions from the army. |
| The situation was made worse by the accumulation of oil wealth by Mr Deby and his entourage. | The situation was made worse by the accumulation of oil wealth by Mr Deby and his entourage. |
| Friction with Sudan | Friction with Sudan |
| There is also tension with Sudan. 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 - both with the mandate of protecting civilians affected by fighting in Darfur. | There is also tension with Sudan. 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 - both with the mandate of protecting civilians affected by fighting in Darfur. |
| France dominates the EU force bound for Chad, whose deployment has been delayed because of the fighting. | France 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. | Some 100 troops Austrian and Irish troops had been due to arrive last Thursday. |
| 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' Under a 30-year-old agreement, the French military gives logistical and intelligence support to Chad's government. | 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' Under a 30-year-old agreement, the French military gives logistical and intelligence support 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. |
| Chad's Foreign Ministers Ahmat Allami has accused Sudan of instigating the rebel advance in order to stop the deployment of the EU force: | Chad's Foreign Ministers Ahmat Allami has accused Sudan of instigating the rebel advance in order to stop the deployment of the EU force: |
| "Sudan does not want this force because it would shine a light on all the genocide that is taking place in Darfur orchestrated from Chadian territory," he told the BBC. | "Sudan does not want this force because it would shine a light on all the genocide that is taking place in Darfur orchestrated from Chadian territory," he told the BBC. |