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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Chad president 'in total control' | Chad president 'in total control' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Chad's president has appeared in public for the first time since an attempted coup, saying the government had successfully repulsed the rebels. | Chad's president has appeared in public for the first time since an attempted coup, saying the government had successfully repulsed the rebels. |
| "We are in total control, not only of the capital, but of all the country," Idriss Deby told reporters from the presidential palace in the capital. | "We are in total control, not only of the capital, but of all the country," Idriss Deby told reporters from the presidential palace in the capital. |
| In N'Djamena, dead bodies left on the streets since rebels fled on Sunday, are being collected by aid workers. | In N'Djamena, dead bodies left on the streets since rebels fled on Sunday, are being collected by aid workers. |
| Meanwhile, the French defence minister is on a visit to show his support. | Meanwhile, the French defence minister is on a visit to show his support. |
| The BBC's Arnaud Zajtman in N'Djamena says the army and French soldiers can be seen patrolling the streets. | The BBC's Arnaud Zajtman in N'Djamena says the army and French soldiers can be seen patrolling the streets. |
| Our reporter says attack helicopters can be heard taking off to go and bomb rebel positions outside the city. | Our reporter says attack helicopters can be heard taking off to go and bomb rebel positions outside the city. |
| He says thanks to intelligence and logistics provided by the French military they will be hunting for the rebel's 200 pick-up trucks which withdrew after the heavy battles over the weekend. | He says thanks to intelligence and logistics provided by the French military they will be hunting for the rebel's 200 pick-up trucks which withdrew after the heavy battles over the weekend. |
| Although the former French colony has a history of coups, last week's fighting was the most violent in decades. | Although the former French colony has a history of coups, last week's fighting was the most violent in decades. |
| Tension | Tension |
| Our correspondent says Mr Deby was dressed in full military uniform when he called the attackers "mercenaries" and accused Sudan of behind the coup bid. | Our correspondent says Mr Deby was dressed in full military uniform when he called the attackers "mercenaries" and accused Sudan of behind the coup bid. |
| France has strongly upheld its commitment regarding the aggression President Idriss Deby href="/1/hi/world/africa/7227290.stm">France's tough Chad choice | |
| Khartoum has previously denied accusations that it backs Chadian rebels by allowing them bases in its border region of Darfur. | Khartoum has previously denied accusations that it backs Chadian rebels by allowing them bases in its border region of Darfur. |
| Mr Deby said he believed most of the attackers had fled the capital. | Mr Deby said he believed most of the attackers had fled the capital. |
| "We're at their heels and we shall catch them before they get back to Sudan," he said. | "We're at their heels and we shall catch them before they get back to Sudan," he said. |
| He thanked France, which has a military agreement with Chad to provide logistical, medical and training aid, for its support during the crisis. | He thanked France, which has a military agreement with Chad to provide logistical, medical and training aid, for its support during the crisis. |
| "France did not fail in its commitments. France has strongly upheld its commitment regarding the aggression," Mr Deby said. | "France did not fail in its commitments. France has strongly upheld its commitment regarding the aggression," Mr Deby said. |
| During his visit, French Defence Minister Herve Morin has reiterated that France would support the legitimate Chadian government. | During his visit, French Defence Minister Herve Morin has reiterated that France would support the legitimate Chadian government. |
| Our correspondent says Mr Deby hinted that if asked by France he might be prepared to pardon those jailed over last year's child kidnapping scandal involving French charity Zoe's Ark. | |
| Six French aid workers are serving their jail term in France. A Chadian and Sudanese national are in prison in Chad. | |
| Looting | Looting |
| Meanwhile, the authorities hope that residents who fled the capital will consider returning home - despite the widespread destruction during the fighting. | Meanwhile, the authorities hope that residents who fled the capital will consider returning home - despite the widespread destruction during the fighting. |
| class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7225023.stm">Q&A: Rebellion in Chad class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7224008.stm">Profile: Idriss Deby class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7228376.stm">Refugee's gruelling escape | |
| "I'm going home because the situation seems to have stabilised. We heard it on the radio that's why we are going back home to see the situation," Chadian Issara Hassan said across the river in Cameroon where more than 20,000 people have taken refuge. | "I'm going home because the situation seems to have stabilised. We heard it on the radio that's why we are going back home to see the situation," Chadian Issara Hassan said across the river in Cameroon where more than 20,000 people have taken refuge. |
| But for aid agencies coping with the humanitarian fallout, widespread looting in the capital has made the situation difficult. | But for aid agencies coping with the humanitarian fallout, widespread looting in the capital has made the situation difficult. |
| "Half of the UN offices in N'Djamena were looted. This problem will have consequences and implications on our humanitarian programmes," UN spokesperson Elizabeth Brys said. | "Half of the UN offices in N'Djamena were looted. This problem will have consequences and implications on our humanitarian programmes," UN spokesperson Elizabeth Brys said. |
| Meanwhile, the aid agency Save The Children has called for the establishment of an emergency air corridor to eastern Chad where half a million refugees from Sudan and war-displaced Chadians rely on aid. | Meanwhile, the aid agency Save The Children has called for the establishment of an emergency air corridor to eastern Chad where half a million refugees from Sudan and war-displaced Chadians rely on aid. |
| A French-dominated European Union peacekeeping force had been due to start deploying to eastern Chad last week to give the refugees and aid workers there a measure of protection. | A French-dominated European Union peacekeeping force had been due to start deploying to eastern Chad last week to give the refugees and aid workers there a measure of protection. |