This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7224691.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Chad troops battle against rebels Chad troops battle against rebels
(about 1 hour later)
Chadian forces have used tanks and helicopter gunships to try to drive back rebels besieging the presidential palace in the capital N'Djamena.Chadian forces have used tanks and helicopter gunships to try to drive back rebels besieging the presidential palace in the capital N'Djamena.
The rebels seized large parts of the city on Saturday. Aid agency MSF told the BBC there were "a lot of dead bodies" in the city, and 300 people being treated in hospitals.
Humanitarian organisation MSF said its doctors were treating about 50 people injured in the fighting. The rebels, who want to overthrow President Idriss Deby, seized large parts of the city on Saturday.
Correspondents say the crisis is linked to relations between Chad and Sudan and could have major implications for efforts to end the conflict in Darfur. Correspondents say the crisis could have major implications for efforts to end the conflict in Darfur.
Enlarge Map Witnesses heard anti-tank and automatic weapons fire coming from the city centre, starting at about 0500 local time (0400 GMT). Enlarge Map Witnesses heard anti-tank and automatic weapons fire coming from the city centre, starting at about 0500 local time (0400 GMT) on Sunday.
The French Defence Minister Herve Morin said President Idriss Deby, who is believed to be inside the palace, still had 2,000 to 3,000 men under his authority, despite rebel claims that government troops were defecting. French Defence Minister Herve Morin said President Deby, who is believed to be inside the palace, still had 2,000 to 3,000 men under his authority, despite rebel claims that government troops were defecting.
More than 500 French and other foreign citizens have been evacuated to the Gabonese capital, Libreville, with another 400 gathered in designated area in N'Djamena, awaiting airlift. A spokesman for the rebels said they had also taken the eastern town of Adre, near the border with Sudan, an area where some 400,000 people displaced as a result of the conflict in Darfur are living in camps.
The arriving evacuees appeared "harassed but happy", an AFP news agency journalist in Libreville said. 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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7225023.stm">Q&A: Rebellion in Chad class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7224015.stm">'Revolution's going on' class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7224008.stm">Profile: Idriss Deby But the government said it had beaten back that attack, and claimed the assault had been backed by Sudanese aircraft.
France has also offered to evacuate Mr Deby but he refused to go, French officials told AFP. Sudan has denied it is involved in any of the fighting in Chad.
Eastern assault
The rebels also launched an attack on the eastern town of Adre near the border with Sudan.
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 Q&A: Rebellion in Chad'Revolution's going on'Profile: Idriss Deby Local government and military officials said the assault was backed by Sudanese aircraft, but Sudan denied it was involved in any fighting in Chad.
Correspondents say Sudan is known to have supported rebels in Chad in the past - while Chad has backed rebels in the Sudanese province of Darfur.Correspondents say Sudan is known to have supported rebels in Chad in the past - while Chad has backed rebels in the Sudanese province of Darfur.
Adre is in the area where a French-dominated EU peacekeeping force is due to deploy to protect civilians displaced by the fighting in Darfur. Adre is in the area where a French-dominated EU peacekeeping force is due to deploy to protect displaced civilians and the aid workers supporting them.
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.
The French military said several of its combat planes had been moved out of N'Djamena for safety, although they had earlier been overflying the area.
Q&A: Darfur conflictQ&A: Darfur conflict
In other developments:
  • More than 500 French and other foreign citizens have been evacuated to the Gabonese capital, Libreville, with another 400 gathered in designated area in N'Djamena, awaiting airlift.
  • President Deby refused a French offer to evacuate him, French officials told AFP.
  • The French military said several of its combat planes had been moved out of N'Djamena for safety, although they had earlier been seen overflying the area.
    • France has a long-term military presence in Chad, one of its former colonies, giving the government intelligence and logistic support.France has a long-term military presence in Chad, one of its former colonies, giving the government intelligence and logistic support.
    Mediation efforts
    Sunday's fighting raged despite reports of a ceasefire brokered by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi with Mahamat Nouri, one of the leaders of the three-faction rebel alliance.
    "Our leader replied that he would agree to that if his two other partners in the rebellion would agree as well," rebel spokesman Abderamane Khoulamanla said.
    But 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.
    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 'In pictures: Fighting in Chad' 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.
    Troubled ruleTroubled rule
    Mr Deby seized power in a coup in 1990, but has won three elections since then, although their legitimacy has been challenged.Mr Deby seized power in a coup in 1990, but has won three elections since then, although their legitimacy has been challenged.
    The BBC's Stephanie Hancock, recently based in Chad, says the tide began to turn against him after his decision in 2005 to change the constitution to allow him to run for a third term in office. 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' The BBC's Stephanie Hancock, recently based in Chad, says the tide began to turn against him after his decision in 2005 to change the constitution to allow him to run for a third term in office.
    Tensions with Sudan have also been heightened over the conflict in Darfur.Tensions with Sudan have also been heightened over the conflict in Darfur.
    Sudan's government and pro-government Arab militias are accused of war crimes against the region's black African population.Sudan's government and pro-government Arab militias are accused of war crimes against the region's black African population.
    Some 2m people have fled their homes, including an estimated 200,000 who have sought safety in Chad - many living in camps along the border with Sudan.Some 2m people have fled their homes, including an estimated 200,000 who have sought safety in Chad - many living in camps along the border with Sudan.
    Aid agencies fear the fighting could disrupt $300m aid operation supporting millions in Chad.Aid agencies fear the fighting could disrupt $300m aid operation supporting millions in Chad.
    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:
    Name
    		 Name