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| France in warning to Chad rebels | France in warning to Chad rebels |
| (10 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. |
| President Nicolas Sarkozy said France would "do its duty" if it must. 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. | Meanwhile, the AFP news agency reports the rebels are willing to accept a ceasefire. |
| 'Think again' | 'Think again' |
| "We really hope we won't have to intervene further," Mr Kouchner said. | "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. | But "when it came to defending the [N'Djamena] airport, our forces did so very sharply, very effectively," he said. |
| Q: Rebellion in ChadFrench diplomatic tight-rope | Q: Rebellion in ChadFrench diplomatic tight-rope |
| President Sarkozy reiterated France's determination not to allow rebels to overthrow the government. | |
| "If France has to do its duty, it will. No-one should doubt that," he told reporters in western France. | |
| 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. | 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. | "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. |
| Some 20,000 people have estimated to have fled from N'Djamena to neighbouring Cameroon. | Some 20,000 people have estimated to have fled from N'Djamena to neighbouring Cameroon. |
| Aid officials say they are struggling to help those who are crossing into the town of Kousseri, just across the Chari River from the Chadian capital. | Aid officials say they are struggling to help those who are crossing into the town of Kousseri, just across the Chari River from the Chadian capital. |
| The man in charge of United Nations relief operations in the town, Gilbert Lubaki, told the BBC they were aiming to reopen a camp 30km away, which had been used in previous emergencies, and organise food distribution and shelter there. | The man in charge of United Nations relief operations in the town, Gilbert Lubaki, told the BBC they were aiming to reopen a camp 30km away, which had been used in previous emergencies, and organise food distribution and shelter there. |
| At the moment, he said, many of the refugees were scattered in local schools in Cameroon and surviving on what they had brought with them. | At the moment, he said, many of the refugees were scattered in local schools in Cameroon and surviving on what they had brought with them. |
| The UN refugee agency says it is preparing to send two airlift flights this week from its regional aid stockpiles in Dubai to Cameroon. | The UN refugee agency says it is preparing to send two airlift flights this week from its regional aid stockpiles in Dubai to Cameroon. |
| 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 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 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. | 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. | Chad has accused Sudan of backing the rebels to stop the peacekeepers getting too close to Darfur. |
| Sudan denies the charges. | Sudan denies the charges. |
Have your been affected by the fighting in Chad? Are you in Chad or in a neighbouring country? Please send your comments by using the form below: | Have your been affected by the fighting in Chad? Are you in Chad or in a neighbouring country? Please send your comments by using the form below: |