Chad claims victory over rebels

10/05/2009| IslamWeb

Chad has declared victory after two days of fighting Sudanese based rebels in the east of the country.

"It is a decisive victory," Adoum Younousmi, Chad's defense minister, said on Saturday.

The Chadian government says at least 225 rebels and 22 soldiers were killed in two days of clashes on Thursday and Friday south of the main eastern city of Abeche.

South of Abeche, in the town of Am-Dam, government forces showed off their booty and prisoners to journalists, who also saw dozens of bodies and burned-out vehicles.

A source from the rebel Union of Resistance Forces (UFR) claimed their forces were still massed southeast of Abeche and intent on taking the capital, at least 600km away to the west.

Adeline Mendji, a Ndjamena resident, said: "The rebels are capable of surprise at any moment … The government forces must monitor everywhere, not only in the east."

Adam Mustafa Ibrahim, the governor of Abeche, told Al Jazeera: "Security forces are on alert; they are patrolling the borders and control the situation.

"We do not pay attention to rumors, but if there is solid information regarding rebel movements, we will attack them as we have before."

'Breaking off ties'

Chad also threatened to break off relations with Sudan if fighting continued.

Idriss Deby Itno, the president, renewed his accusations that UFR rebels who are vowing to take Ndjamena are being backed by Sudan, claims that Khartoum rejects.

"The government must re-evaluate relations between Sudan and Chad, and envisages - if the situation does not evolve positively - the rupture of these relations," he told the nation on Saturday.

"To this end, Sudanese cultural centers must be closed and schools financed by Sudan must be taken over by the Chadian government."

PHOTO CAPTION

Chad army troops patrol on May 8, 2009 in the area of Am Dam, 130 km south of Abeche.

Agencies