Chad's President Idriss Deby Itno threatened Saturday to break off relations with Sudan, in the aftermath of two days of fighting with Sudan-based rebels in the east of the country.
   
"The government must reevaluate relations between Sudan and Chad, and envisages -- if the situation does not evolve positively -- the rupture of these relations," he said in a speech at the presidential palace.
   
Deby also said he was considering "withdrawing confidence" in the African Union, and announced the shutdown of the Sudanese cultural centre and the takeover of schools in Chad financed by Sudan.