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| France in warning to Chad rebels | France in warning to Chad rebels |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| France has warned rebels in Chad that it could intervene if they continue to threaten the capital, N'Djamena. | France has warned rebels in Chad that it could intervene if they continue to threaten the capital, N'Djamena. |
| Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said he "hoped" the French troops in the city would not have to intervene. | Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said he "hoped" the French troops in the city would not have to intervene. |
| But he pointed out they had already defended the airport from rebel attack. The rebels have reportedly accused the French of bombing them already. | But he pointed out they had already defended the airport from rebel attack. The rebels have reportedly accused the French of bombing them already. |
| The rebels seized much of the city over the weekend but the government is now in control. Thousands have fled. | The rebels seized much of the city over the weekend but the government is now in control. Thousands have fled. |
| Mr Kouchner was speaking after the United Nations Security Council called on all member-states to back the Chadian government. | Mr Kouchner was speaking after the United Nations Security Council called on all member-states to back the Chadian government. |
| Former colonial power France has 1,400 troops in Chad and has helped to evacuate foreigners from N'Djamena. | Former colonial power France has 1,400 troops in Chad and has helped to evacuate foreigners from N'Djamena. |
| Meanwhile, the AFP news agency reports the rebels are willing to accept a ceasefire. | |
| 'Think again' | |
| "We really hope we won't have to intervene further," Mr Kouchner said. | |
| But "when it came to defending the [N'Djamena] airport, our forces did so very sharply, very effectively," he said. | |
| Q&A: Rebellion in ChadFrench diplomatic tight-rope | |
| Rebel leader Mahamat Nouri told French radio that their positions had been bombed throughout Monday. | Rebel leader Mahamat Nouri told French radio that their positions had been bombed throughout Monday. |
| He said the rebel forces would launch a new battle for the city unless the French intervene. | |
| "Because of yesterday's UN resolution giving the French a mandate to intervene, we will have to think again," he told Europe 1 radio, AFP reports. | |
| At least 15,000 people have fled the city to neighbouring Cameroon, according to the UN refugee agency. | At least 15,000 people have fled the city to neighbouring Cameroon, according to the UN refugee agency. |
| African Union mediators are due in the city to try to end the fighting. | African Union mediators are due in the city to try to end the fighting. |
| The fighting has led the European Union to delay sending its peacekeeping force to Chad. More than half of this 3,700 strong force will be French. | |
| The force was meant to protect refugees from Darfur and aid workers. | |
| The latest rebel offensive began on the day the first troops were meant to arrive. | |
| Chad has accused Sudan of backing the rebels to stop the peacekeepers getting too close to Darfur. | |
| Sudan denies the charges. |