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Chad rebels 'seize army officers' Chad rebels 'seize army officers'
(about 2 hours later)
Chad's army has clashed with Rally of Forces for Change rebels, two days after the RFC claimed its positions had been bombed by air force helicopters.Chad's army has clashed with Rally of Forces for Change rebels, two days after the RFC claimed its positions had been bombed by air force helicopters.
The RFC said government forces attacked their positions in an area about 150km north of Abeche in eastern Chad.The RFC said government forces attacked their positions in an area about 150km north of Abeche in eastern Chad.
The rebels claim that after a two-hour battle, they seized a number of officers and 30 army vehicles.The rebels claim that after a two-hour battle, they seized a number of officers and 30 army vehicles.
Government sources played down the incident saying they stumbled across the rebels during a routine patrol.Government sources played down the incident saying they stumbled across the rebels during a routine patrol.
Both sides say it is too early to talk of casualty figures.Both sides say it is too early to talk of casualty figures.
The RFC announced last week that it was pulling out of a ceasefire deal and was preparing to re-engage the government.The RFC announced last week that it was pulling out of a ceasefire deal and was preparing to re-engage the government.
President Idriss Deby, who the rebels are trying to overthrow, is reportedly on the ground in eastern Chad commanding his troops.President Idriss Deby, who the rebels are trying to overthrow, is reportedly on the ground in eastern Chad commanding his troops.
Talks unlikelyTalks unlikely
The BBC's Stephanie Hancock in the capital, N'Djamena, says Monday's fighting comes just days after both the Chadian government and the RFC had talked of starting fresh negotiations.The BBC's Stephanie Hancock in the capital, N'Djamena, says Monday's fighting comes just days after both the Chadian government and the RFC had talked of starting fresh negotiations.
Mission impossible?
Chad's prime minister even spoke about RFC's leader, Timan Erdimi, as a brother and urged him to rally back to the government.Chad's prime minister even spoke about RFC's leader, Timan Erdimi, as a brother and urged him to rally back to the government.
But 24 hours later, the RFC said they had been bombed by helicopters from the Chadian army.But 24 hours later, the RFC said they had been bombed by helicopters from the Chadian army.
Now that fighting on the ground also appears to have broken out, a return to dialogue is looking much less likely, our correspondent says.Now that fighting on the ground also appears to have broken out, a return to dialogue is looking much less likely, our correspondent says.
A second rebel group, the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development (UFDD), has also torn up the truce and has already engaged in several days of fierce fighting with government troops further south.A second rebel group, the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development (UFDD), has also torn up the truce and has already engaged in several days of fierce fighting with government troops further south.
The rebels say the government failed to honour a peace deal brokered by Libya in March, under which they agreed with four Chadian rebel groups to an immediate ceasefire, an amnesty for civil and military personnel and the release of all prisoners.The rebels say the government failed to honour a peace deal brokered by Libya in March, under which they agreed with four Chadian rebel groups to an immediate ceasefire, an amnesty for civil and military personnel and the release of all prisoners.