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Chad 'retakes town from rebels' Chad 'retakes town from rebels'
(10 minutes later)
The Chadian army says it has retaken the eastern town of Abeche, a day after it reportedly fell into rebel hands.The Chadian army says it has retaken the eastern town of Abeche, a day after it reportedly fell into rebel hands.
Rebels, who claimed to be holding Abeche, fled the town on Sunday morning, the Chadian military said.Rebels, who claimed to be holding Abeche, fled the town on Sunday morning, the Chadian military said.
On Saturday two rebel groups said they had captured Abeche, about 700km (440 miles) east of the capital, N'Djamena, and the nearby town of Biltine.On Saturday two rebel groups said they had captured Abeche, about 700km (440 miles) east of the capital, N'Djamena, and the nearby town of Biltine.
Several rebel groups based in eastern Chad want to depose the President, Idriss Deby.Several rebel groups based in eastern Chad want to depose the President, Idriss Deby.
Chad's Defence Minister, Bichara Issa Djadallah, told the BBC that Abeche is now totally under control of the government, and said rebels fled after the Chadian Army surrounded their positions Chad's Defence Minister, Bichara Issa Djadallah, told the BBC that Abeche is now totally under control of the government, and said Forces for Development and Democracy (UFDD) rebels fled after the Chadian Army surrounded their positions.
The BBC's Stephanie Hancock in N'Djamena says in the past few hours, government soldiers have been seen in the streets of Abeche.The BBC's Stephanie Hancock in N'Djamena says in the past few hours, government soldiers have been seen in the streets of Abeche.
Aid workers there report seeing several vehicles driving through town, with many of the soldiers cheering.Aid workers there report seeing several vehicles driving through town, with many of the soldiers cheering.
Calm restored
Extensive looting took place in Abeche on Saturday night, and there are reports that at least three humanitarian compounds were targeted.Extensive looting took place in Abeche on Saturday night, and there are reports that at least three humanitarian compounds were targeted.
Our correspondent says Abeche is now reported to be totally calm, although there was sporadic gunfire heard in some eastern quarters of the city.
Abeche, about 160km from the Sudanese border, is the centre of a huge relief operation, to assist refugees from the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region.
About 200,000 refugees have crossed the border into Chad to escape the violence in Darfur.
The Chadian government has accused Sudan of backing the rebels - a charge Sudan denies - while Chad denies Sudanese claims that it supports black African rebels in Darfur.