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Chad's rebels 'seize' third town | Chad's rebels 'seize' third town |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Rebels in Chad say they have taken the eastern town of Biltine - the third town they have captured in recent days. | |
Rebels have said they intend to advance on the capital, N'Djamena, 750 kilometres (470 miles) away, in an effort to topple President Idriss Deby. | |
There was no immediate reaction from the government or independent confirmation that Biltine had fallen. | There was no immediate reaction from the government or independent confirmation that Biltine had fallen. |
The government described a previous claim of a rebel advance as a "publicity stunt". | |
It said on Sunday that the rebels were trying to draw security forces out of their defensive positions in towns and cities. | |
'Passing through' | |
A spokesman for the rebel National Alliance said on Monday that the attackers had met no resistance in Biltine. | |
They were not planning to remain in the town, he said. The rebels only briefly occupied Goz Beida and passed through Am Dam. | |
Biltine is just over 90 kilometres (55 miles) north of Abeche, a hub for international aid workers in eastern Chad. | |
UN staff as well as troops from former colonial power France and a European Union protection force are stationed in Abeche. | |
In February, rebels reached President Deby's palace before being repelled by government forces. | In February, rebels reached President Deby's palace before being repelled by government forces. |
The UN has said Sudan and Chad are fighting a proxy war through each other's rebel groups. | The UN has said Sudan and Chad are fighting a proxy war through each other's rebel groups. |
Last month, rebels from Sudan's Darfur province reached the outskirts of the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, before being repelled. | |
Sudan blamed Chad for that attack - charges denied by Mr Deby's government. | |
The two countries have signed numerous peace deals but these have never held. | The two countries have signed numerous peace deals but these have never held. |