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Support Chad president, says UN UN gives support to Chad leader
(about 2 hours later)
The United Nations Security Council has called on all member-states to back the Chadian government following two days of clashes with rebels in Ndjamena. The United Nations Security Council has called on all member-states to back the Chadian government following two days of clashes with rebels in the capital.
Correspondents say this will be taken by former colonial power France, which has a base in Chad, as an endorsement of the support it has been providing. France, which has 1,400 troops in Chad, said it hoped it would not have to use the mandate and intervene further.
But France's Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner, later said he did not foresee it launching any military operations. The French foreign minister said the government of Chadian President Idriss Deby was in control of the capital N'Djamena "for the time being".
Earlier, thousands of people fled the capital during a lull in fighting. Earlier, thousands of people fled the city during a lull in fighting.
Many crossed the river border with Cameroon via the Ngueli bridge or by using boats.Many crossed the river border with Cameroon via the Ngueli bridge or by using boats.
We do not intend to put French troops more on alert than they are, or to start military operations Bernard KouchnerFrench Foreign Minister French diplomatic tight-ropeWe do not intend to put French troops more on alert than they are, or to start military operations Bernard KouchnerFrench Foreign Minister French diplomatic tight-rope
Local officials told the UN refugee agency, the UNHCR, that thousands were also crossing at the border town of Kousseri and that more were expected. Local officials told the UN refugee agency that thousands were also crossing at the border town of Kousseri and that more were expected.
A plane chartered by the French government carrying 363 foreigners evacuated from Chad arrived in Paris on Monday morning.
The Chadian government earlier said it had driven the rebels out of the city, but the rebels insisted they had only made a tactical withdrawal and would be launching a fresh assault.
Aid workers have reported hundreds of injuries to civilians resulting from the intense battles near the presidential palace, with bodies lying in the streets.Aid workers have reported hundreds of injuries to civilians resulting from the intense battles near the presidential palace, with bodies lying in the streets.
International supportInternational support
After a late-night negotiating session, UN diplomats agreed a statement on Monday morning condemning the attacks by the rebels, who want to overthrow President Idriss Deby, and demanding an end to the violence. After late-night negotiations, UN diplomats agreed a statement condemning the attacks by the rebels, who want to overthrow President Deby, and demanding an end to the violence.
The non-binding statement also gave the green light for countries to "provide support, in conformity with the United Nations Charter, as requested by the government of Chad".The non-binding statement also gave the green light for countries to "provide support, in conformity with the United Nations Charter, as requested by the government of Chad".
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 NdjamenaMay 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 ChadIn pictures: Fighting in ChadCHAD TIMELINE June 2005 - Constitutional changes approved allowing president to stand for third termApril 2006 - Hundreds killed as rebels fight government troops on outskirts of NdjamenaMay 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 ChadIn pictures: Fighting in Chad
Chad's permanent representative to the UN, Mahamat Adoum, wrote to the Security Council on Sunday, appealing for countries to "to provide all aid and assistance needed to help it". Chad's permanent representative to the UN wrote to the Security Council on Sunday, appealing for countries to "to provide all aid and assistance needed to help it".
Following the meeting, the US permanent representative, Zalmay Khalilzad, said the French had "the expertise and lead on this issue, and should they decide to do more, they have the support of the Security Council".Following the meeting, the US permanent representative, Zalmay Khalilzad, said the French had "the expertise and lead on this issue, and should they decide to do more, they have the support of the Security Council".
The BBC world affairs correspondent Mark Doyle says the UN statement presents the French, who have military bases and 1,400 troops in Chad, with political and strategic problems. BBC world affairs correspondent Mark Doyle says the UN statement presents the French with political and strategic problems.
The French army enjoys its historic military influence in Africa and quietly backs President Deby with weapons and military intelligence, our correspondent says.The French army enjoys its historic military influence in Africa and quietly backs President Deby with weapons and military intelligence, our correspondent says.
But, at the same time, France wants to pursue a modern, European destiny - it wants a French-dominated European Union peacekeeping force, including Irish and Polish troops, to intervene in the crisis, he adds.But, at the same time, France wants to pursue a modern, European destiny - it wants a French-dominated European Union peacekeeping force, including Irish and Polish troops, to intervene in the crisis, he adds.
The rebels have previously threatened to attack the force because of France's support for the Chadian government, forcing its deployment to be delayed.The rebels have previously threatened to attack the force because of France's support for the Chadian government, forcing its deployment to be delayed.
The next few days may reveal whether the French forces already in Chad will openly fight the rebels to pave the way for the European force, he says. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said he "hoped" his country's armed forces would "not have to intervene further" to support President Deby.
The French foreign minister was, however, quick to downplay the possibility of any confrontation on Monday evening, saying he "hoped" his country's armed forces would "not have to intervene further" to support President Deby.
"We do not intend to put French troops more on alert than they are, or to start military operations," he said."We do not intend to put French troops more on alert than they are, or to start military operations," he said.
"When it was necessary to defend the airport - something which went on for a very short time, moreover - our forces did so very briskly, very effectively," he added, referring to a rebel attack on Saturday.
Mr Kouchner said that most of N'Djamena was in the government's hands, but cautioned that the rebels were still operating on its outskirts.Mr Kouchner said that most of N'Djamena was in the government's hands, but cautioned that the rebels were still operating on its outskirts.
"For the time being, the city is under the control of the legal authorities," he said.
'Window on genocide''Window on genocide'
Earlier, the commander the Chadian government forces, Gen Mahamat Ali Abdallah, said the rebels had been "completely routed" in the capital.Earlier, the commander the Chadian government forces, Gen Mahamat Ali Abdallah, said the rebels had been "completely routed" in the capital.
However, a rebel spokesman, Abderaman Koulamallah, later rejected the claim. However, a rebel spokesman, Abderaman Koulamallah, rejected the claim.
We have pulled out of the city and we are waiting for the civilian population to be evacuated Abderaman KoulamallahRebel spokesman 'Revolution's going on'Profile: Idriss DebyWe have pulled out of the city and we are waiting for the civilian population to be evacuated Abderaman KoulamallahRebel spokesman 'Revolution's going on'Profile: Idriss Deby
"We have pulled out of the city and we are waiting for the civilian population to be evacuated," he told AFP news agency."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."
The army has also said it had thwarted a second rebel attack on Adre, near the border with Sudan over the weekend.The army has also said it had thwarted a second rebel attack on Adre, near the border with Sudan over the weekend.
The town is where some 240,000 refugees from Darfur are based, living in camps and where the EU force is due to deploy.The town is where some 240,000 refugees from Darfur are based, living in camps and where the EU force is due to deploy.
The 3,700-strong EU force is intended to protect refugees from the Darfur region of neighbouring Sudan, as well as aid workers.The 3,700-strong EU force is intended to protect refugees from the Darfur region of neighbouring Sudan, as well as aid workers.
Chad has accused the Sudanese government of backing the rebel offensive in Chad in order to stop the EU force from being sent to the region.
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 MackayeTHE 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
Chad has accused 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.
"Sudan does not want this force because it would open a window on the genocide in Darfur," said Chadian Foreign Minister Amad Allam-Mi.
The UN Security Council statement issued on Monday did not directly mention Khartoum, but instead called on all countries in the region to put an end to the activities of armed groups and to respect common borders.
The recent violence began on Saturday, when the rebels seized control of large parts of the capital, approaching the palace where President Deby was holding out.The recent violence began on Saturday, when the rebels seized control of large parts of the capital, approaching the palace where President Deby was holding out.
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.
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