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| Chad capital hit by new fighting | Chad capital hit by new fighting |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Fresh fighting has broken out between government and rebel forces in Chad's capital N'Djamena, reports say. | Fresh fighting has broken out between government and rebel forces in Chad's capital N'Djamena, reports say. |
| Heavy weapons fire was heard near the palace where President Idriss Deby is said to be holding out. | Heavy weapons fire was heard near the palace where President Idriss Deby is said to be holding out. |
| Rebels seized large parts of the city on Saturday, but military action subsided overnight as both sides claimed to be in control. | Rebels seized large parts of the city on Saturday, but military action subsided overnight as both sides claimed to be in control. |
| More than 500 French and other foreign citizens have been evacuated to the Gabonese capital, Libreville. | |
| The arriving evacuees appeared "harassed but happy", an AFP news agency journalist in Libreville said. | |
| Enlarge Map | Enlarge Map |
| "It's been a hard, exhausting day. We didn't know how things might turn out," one mother told the agency. | |
| Of the 514 evacuated, 217 were French and the rest included Germans, Belgians, Spanish, Portuguese, Armenians and Egyptians. | |
| About 400 others are gathered in designated areas in N'Djamena, guarded by French troops. | |
| Ceasefire | Ceasefire |
| Witnesses heard anti-tank and automatic weapons fire coming from the city centre, starting at about 0500 local time (0400 GMT). | Witnesses heard anti-tank and automatic weapons fire coming from the city centre, starting at about 0500 local time (0400 GMT). |
| AFP reported that government helicopters had attacked a column of rebels in the south of the city heading towards the main radio station. | AFP reported that government helicopters had attacked a column of rebels in the south of the city heading towards the main radio station. |
| French Mirage combat planes have also been overflying the area. | French Mirage combat planes have also been overflying the area. |
| French officials say Paris is neutral in the military conflict but politically backs Mr Deby's government. | French officials say Paris is neutral in the military conflict but politically backs Mr Deby's government. |
| 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 |
| France has also offered to evacuate Mr Deby but he refused to go, French officials told AFP. | France has also offered to evacuate Mr Deby but he refused to go, French officials told AFP. |
| Meanwhile French Defence Minister Herve Morin confirmed that the Chadian army chief of staff, Daoud Soumain, had been killed in combat during the rebel advance on the capital. | Meanwhile French Defence Minister Herve Morin confirmed that the Chadian army chief of staff, Daoud Soumain, had been killed in combat during the rebel advance on the capital. |
| The fighting comes despite reports of a ceasefire brokered by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. | The fighting comes despite reports of a ceasefire brokered by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. |
| Rebel spokesman Abderamane Khoulamanla confirmed reports that Colonel Gaddafi had called rebel leader Mahamat Nouri to propose a ceasefire. | Rebel spokesman Abderamane Khoulamanla confirmed reports that Colonel Gaddafi had called rebel leader Mahamat Nouri to propose a ceasefire. |
| "Our leader replied that he would agree to that if his two other partners in the rebellion would agree as well," Mr Khoulamanla said. | "Our leader replied that he would agree to that if his two other partners in the rebellion would agree as well," Mr Khoulamanla said. |
| 'Assault planned' | 'Assault planned' |
| Another rebel spokesman, Henchi Ordjo, told Reuters news agency that the rebel fighters were simply holding back an assault on the palace to allow the president the chance to leave. | Another rebel spokesman, Henchi Ordjo, told Reuters news agency that the rebel fighters were simply holding back an assault on the palace to allow the president the chance to leave. |
| "No ceasefire has been agreed," he said. | "No ceasefire has been agreed," he said. |
| 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. |
| There was heavy fighting throughout Saturday after thousands of rebels entered N'Djamena in the morning. | There was heavy fighting throughout Saturday after thousands of rebels entered N'Djamena in the morning. |
| They began their advance on the city from near Chad's eastern border with Sudan earlier this week. | They began their advance on the city from near Chad's eastern border with Sudan earlier this week. |
| 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. |
| Troubled rule | Troubled rule |
| 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. |
| 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 class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7224738.stm">'In pictures: Fighting in Chad' 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. |
| 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. |
| Chadian officials have accused the rebels of seeking to stop the deployment of the EU force. | Chadian officials have accused the rebels of seeking to stop the deployment of the EU force. |
| Both the Chadian and Sudanese governments support rebels in each others' territory. | Both the Chadian and Sudanese governments support rebels in each others' territory. |
| 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: |