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| Thousands flee fighting in Chad | Thousands flee fighting in Chad |
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| Thousands of people are fleeing the Chad capital, N'Djamena, after two days of fierce fighting between government and rebel forces in the city. | Thousands of people are fleeing the Chad capital, N'Djamena, after two days of fierce fighting between government and rebel forces in the city. |
| The government says it has pushed the rebels out of the city but they say they withdrew to give civilians the chance to evacuate. | The government says it has pushed the rebels out of the city but they say they withdrew to give civilians the chance to evacuate. |
| Aid workers report that fighting is continuing outside the city, while dead bodies litter the streets. | Aid workers report that fighting is continuing outside the city, while dead bodies litter the streets. |
| The European Union has delayed sending its peacekeeping force to Chad. | The European Union has delayed sending its peacekeeping force to Chad. |
| The EU force is intended to protect refugees from the Darfur region of neighbouring Sudan, as well as aid workers. | The EU force is intended to protect refugees from the Darfur region of neighbouring Sudan, as well as aid workers. |
| Chad accuses the Sudanese government of backing the rebel offensive in Chad in order to stop the EU force from being sent to the region. | Chad accuses the Sudanese government of backing the rebel offensive in Chad in order to stop the EU force from being sent to the region. |
| Sudan denies this, as well as accusations that it has supported Arab militias accused of ethnic cleansing and genocide in Darfur. | Sudan denies this, as well as accusations that it has supported Arab militias accused of ethnic cleansing and genocide in Darfur. |
| Refugee concern | Refugee concern |
| General Mahamat Ali Abdallah, who is commanding the government forces, said the rebels had been "completely routed". | General Mahamat Ali Abdallah, who is commanding the government forces, said the rebels had been "completely routed". |
| But rebel spokesman Abderaman Koulamallah rejected this. | But rebel spokesman Abderaman Koulamallah rejected this. |
| 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'In pictures: Fighting in Chad "We have pulled out of the city and we are waiting for the civilian population to be evacuated," he told AFP news agency. | 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'In pictures: Fighting in Chad "We have pulled out of the city and we are waiting for the civilian population to be evacuated," he told AFP news agency. |
| "We certainly will go back on the offensive... We're asking the civilian population of Ndjamena to leave immediately because their safety cannot be assured." | "We certainly will go back on the offensive... We're asking the civilian population of Ndjamena to leave immediately because their safety cannot be assured." |
| N'Djamena is separated from Cameroon by the Ngueli bridge over the Logone-Chari river. | N'Djamena is separated from Cameroon by the Ngueli bridge over the Logone-Chari river. |
| Thousands of people were streaming across the bridge, reports the Reuters news agency. | Thousands of people were streaming across the bridge, reports the Reuters news agency. |
| Local officials have told the UN refugee agency that thousands were also crossing at the border town of Kousseri. | Local officials have told the UN refugee agency that thousands were also crossing at the border town of Kousseri. |
| "We're expecting a lot more people coming," said UNHCR spokesman Ron Redmond. | "We're expecting a lot more people coming," said UNHCR spokesman Ron Redmond. |
| He also said he was extremely concerned for the 240,000 Darfur refugees in Chad. | He also said he was extremely concerned for the 240,000 Darfur refugees in Chad. |
| A plane chartered by the French government carrying 363 foreigners evacuated from Chad arrived in Paris on Monday morning. | |
| Others have gone to Gabon. | |
| The UN called an emergency meeting in New York to discuss the crisis and will meet again on Monday. | The UN called an emergency meeting in New York to discuss the crisis and will meet again on Monday. |
| Before the meeting, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for a ceasefire. | Before the meeting, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for a ceasefire. |
| In eastern Chad, the army said it had thwarted a second rebel attack on the town of Adre, near the border with Sudan. | In eastern Chad, the army said it had thwarted a second rebel attack on the town of Adre, near the border with Sudan. |
| 'Window on genocide' | 'Window on genocide' |
| The area is home to some 400,000 people displaced as a result of the conflict in Darfur are living in camps. | The area is home to some 400,000 people displaced as a result of the conflict in Darfur are living in camps. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Profile: Idriss Deby | Profile: Idriss Deby |
| France has a long-term military presence in Chad, one of its former colonies, giving the government intelligence and logistic support. | |
| This has led the rebels to threaten to attack the EU peacekeeping force. | |
| The government claimed the assault on the town had been backed by Sudanese aircraft. | The government claimed the assault on the town had been backed by Sudanese aircraft. |
| Chad's Minister for Mines and Energy, General Mahamat Ali Abdallah Nassour, called the attack a "declaration of war" by Sudan. | Chad's Minister for Mines and Energy, General Mahamat Ali Abdallah Nassour, called the attack a "declaration of war" by Sudan. |
| "Sudan does not want this force because it would open a window on the genocide in Darfur," said Foreign Minister Amad Allam-Mi. | "Sudan does not want this force because it would open a window on the genocide in Darfur," said Foreign Minister Amad Allam-Mi. |
| Sudan has repeatedly denied any involvement. | Sudan has repeatedly denied any involvement. |
| "Any developments in Chad reflect on Sudan and any instability there would have a negative impact on Sudan," said Sudanese foreign ministry spokesman Ali al-Sadeq. | "Any developments in Chad reflect on Sudan and any instability there would have a negative impact on Sudan," said Sudanese foreign ministry spokesman Ali al-Sadeq. |
| Colonial ties | Colonial ties |
| Chadian rebels seized control of large parts of the capital on Saturday, approaching the palace where President Idriss Deby was holding out. | Chadian rebels seized control of large parts of the capital on Saturday, approaching the palace where President Idriss Deby was holding out. |
| 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 | 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 |
| China, a major investor in Chad's growing oil industry, also evacuated 210 of its citizens and two Taiwanese, China's official Xinhua news agency reported. | China, a major investor in Chad's growing oil industry, also evacuated 210 of its citizens and two Taiwanese, China's official Xinhua news agency reported. |
| 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. |
Are you in Chad or in Sudan? Have you been affected by the fighting? Tell us what is happening where you are by using the form below: | Are you in Chad or in Sudan? Have you been affected by the fighting? Tell us what is happening where you are by using the form below: |