CHAD
European troops delay deployment due to fighting
Friday, February 1, 2008
Chad's army fought to hold off rebels advancing on the capital N'Djamena. The renewed combat delayed the deployment of European peacekeepers to the central African country. (Report: C.Norris-Trent)
Friday, February 1, 2008
By Reuters
N'DJAMENA, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Chad's army fought to hold off
advancing rebels 100 km (60 miles) from the capital N'Djamena on
Friday and the renewed combat delayed the deployment of European
peacekeepers to the central African country.
Up to 3,700 European Union troops were due to arrive in
coming weeks on an urgent peacekeeping mission to eastern Chad,
but anti-government rebels pre-empted the deployment with a
lightning offensive this week towards the capital in the west.
As Chadian troops battled to halt the rebel advance
northeast of N'Djamena, France airlifted in reinforcements for
its military contingent in Chad under a bilateral defence treaty
with the former French colony.
The French military said its Mirage jets and soldiers were
giving logistics, medical and intelligence support to President
Idriss Deby's army, but were not engaged in direct combat.
An EU spokesman said the "increased instability" meant the
deployment of the first European troops was being delayed.
"At the moment we don't want to blow this out of proportion,
but yes, a flight of Irish troops yesterday and two flights
today have been postponed," the spokesman said in Brussels.
The situation would be monitored "hour by hour", he said.
A rebel leader, Timane Erdimi, called on President Deby to
negotiate an immediate power-sharing deal or face an attack on
N'Djamena by the rebels, who had raced in a column of 300
vehicles from the eastern border with Sudan's war-torn Darfur.
Fierce fighting was reported northeast of the capital.
"We've been in combat this morning with the rebels at Massakory,
150 km (95 miles) from N'Djamena," a senior army officer said.
In Paris, French armed forces spokesman Thierry Burkhard
said fighting was taking place between Massakory and Massaguet,
which lies 78 km (49 miles) from the capital on the main road.
The rebels said in a statement they had taken Massaguet, but
there was no independent confirmation of this.
In the dusty capital on the banks of the Chari river, most
residents stayed at home and the streets were virtually deserted
apart from reinforced military checkpoints and patrols.
As helicopters clattered overhead, some residents ventured
out to try to stock up on food. "I've got nothing at home, so
I've come out to look for some supplies, because you never know
in this situation," said Hadje Mariam at a local market.
"PEACE OR WAR"
Chadian officials accuse Sudan of arming and backing the
attacking force of several united rebel groups, which have
fought a hit-and-run guerrilla war for years against Deby, who
himself seized power in a revolt from the east in 1990.
The rebels appeared to be trying to seek a quick military
victory before the EU troop deployment.
Rebel chief Erdimi told Radio France International the rebel
forces had split up and taken up positions around the capital.
"Even if we're at the gates of the palace, we're ready to
negotiate a real sharing of power," Erdimi said. "It's up to Mr.
Deby to choose between peace or war," he added.
There was no immediate response from Deby.
Government military sources said an army cordon was in place
around the city, which was last directly attacked by the rebels
in April 2006, when several hundred people were killed.
The presidential palace in N'Djamena was heavily guarded by
soldiers, residents said. Mobile phone networks were cut off.
Foreign embassies in the Chadian capital were advising their
nationals to stay at home and avoid travel.
The European peacekeepers, around half from France, were due
to deploy in Chad's east in coming weeks to protect hundreds of
thousands of refugees from violence spilling over from Darfur.
Chadian rebels have previously threatened to attack the
European force if it interferes in their campaign against Deby,
although European commanders have pledged not to take sides.
Several of Chad's main eastern rebel groups abandoned a
Libyan-brokered ceasefire late last year, triggering pitched
battles in November and December that both rebel and government
sides said killed hundreds of fighters.
advancing rebels 100 km (60 miles) from the capital N'Djamena on
Friday and the renewed combat delayed the deployment of European
peacekeepers to the central African country.
Up to 3,700 European Union troops were due to arrive in
coming weeks on an urgent peacekeeping mission to eastern Chad,
but anti-government rebels pre-empted the deployment with a
lightning offensive this week towards the capital in the west.
As Chadian troops battled to halt the rebel advance
northeast of N'Djamena, France airlifted in reinforcements for
its military contingent in Chad under a bilateral defence treaty
with the former French colony.
The French military said its Mirage jets and soldiers were
giving logistics, medical and intelligence support to President
Idriss Deby's army, but were not engaged in direct combat.
An EU spokesman said the "increased instability" meant the
deployment of the first European troops was being delayed.
"At the moment we don't want to blow this out of proportion,
but yes, a flight of Irish troops yesterday and two flights
today have been postponed," the spokesman said in Brussels.
The situation would be monitored "hour by hour", he said.
A rebel leader, Timane Erdimi, called on President Deby to
negotiate an immediate power-sharing deal or face an attack on
N'Djamena by the rebels, who had raced in a column of 300
vehicles from the eastern border with Sudan's war-torn Darfur.
Fierce fighting was reported northeast of the capital.
"We've been in combat this morning with the rebels at Massakory,
150 km (95 miles) from N'Djamena," a senior army officer said.
In Paris, French armed forces spokesman Thierry Burkhard
said fighting was taking place between Massakory and Massaguet,
which lies 78 km (49 miles) from the capital on the main road.
The rebels said in a statement they had taken Massaguet, but
there was no independent confirmation of this.
In the dusty capital on the banks of the Chari river, most
residents stayed at home and the streets were virtually deserted
apart from reinforced military checkpoints and patrols.
As helicopters clattered overhead, some residents ventured
out to try to stock up on food. "I've got nothing at home, so
I've come out to look for some supplies, because you never know
in this situation," said Hadje Mariam at a local market.
"PEACE OR WAR"
Chadian officials accuse Sudan of arming and backing the
attacking force of several united rebel groups, which have
fought a hit-and-run guerrilla war for years against Deby, who
himself seized power in a revolt from the east in 1990.
The rebels appeared to be trying to seek a quick military
victory before the EU troop deployment.
Rebel chief Erdimi told Radio France International the rebel
forces had split up and taken up positions around the capital.
"Even if we're at the gates of the palace, we're ready to
negotiate a real sharing of power," Erdimi said. "It's up to Mr.
Deby to choose between peace or war," he added.
There was no immediate response from Deby.
Government military sources said an army cordon was in place
around the city, which was last directly attacked by the rebels
in April 2006, when several hundred people were killed.
The presidential palace in N'Djamena was heavily guarded by
soldiers, residents said. Mobile phone networks were cut off.
Foreign embassies in the Chadian capital were advising their
nationals to stay at home and avoid travel.
The European peacekeepers, around half from France, were due
to deploy in Chad's east in coming weeks to protect hundreds of
thousands of refugees from violence spilling over from Darfur.
Chadian rebels have previously threatened to attack the
European force if it interferes in their campaign against Deby,
although European commanders have pledged not to take sides.
Several of Chad's main eastern rebel groups abandoned a
Libyan-brokered ceasefire late last year, triggering pitched
battles in November and December that both rebel and government
sides said killed hundreds of fighters.
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