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France sends extra troops to Chad France sends extra troops to Chad
(40 minutes later)
France is flying 150 extra troops to Chad's capital N'Djamena, amid reports of a rebel advance on the city.France is flying 150 extra troops to Chad's capital N'Djamena, amid reports of a rebel advance on the city.
The reinforcements, previously stationed in Gabon, have been sent to protect French nationals, and will join 2,000 troops already stationed there. The reinforcements have been sent to protect French nationals, and will join 2,000 troops already stationed there.
There are unconfirmed reports of fierce fighting just 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the capital. There are unconfirmed reports of fierce fighting just 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the capital and the UN is pulling non-essential staff out of the city.
A European Union force about to deploy in Chad has delayed its first two troop flights because of the situation.A European Union force about to deploy in Chad has delayed its first two troop flights because of the situation.
"Ongoing instability around N'Djamena has delayed the flights," Dan Harvey, a spokesman for the operation commander, told the BBC News website."Ongoing instability around N'Djamena has delayed the flights," Dan Harvey, a spokesman for the operation commander, told the BBC News website.
The rebels have made a big mistake. We will teach them a lesson Mahamoud BechirChadian diplomat Living in fear in N'Djamena
Mr Harvey said that the planes were due to land on Thursday night and Friday morning with more than 100 troops from Austria and Ireland.Mr Harvey said that the planes were due to land on Thursday night and Friday morning with more than 100 troops from Austria and Ireland.
The 3,700-strong contingent is supposed to protect refugees from Sudan's Darfur region and people displaced by internal fighting. The rebels have made a big mistake. We will teach them a lesson Mahamoud BechirChadian diplomat class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7220434.stm">Living in fear in N'Djamena The 3,700-strong contingent is supposed to protect refugees from Sudan's Darfur region and people displaced by internal fighting.
A Chadian journalist has told the BBC that several sources report fighting between the town of Massaguet and the capital 80 km (50 miles) away.
Other reports say the fighting is further away.
The AFP news agency reports that government forces sent to tackle the rebel advance in the east have returned to protect N'Djamena.
Rebel sources earlier said a column of 300 vehicles was approaching the capital, after seizing Oum Hadjer, a strategically important town in the central region of Batha, 400km (248 miles).Rebel sources earlier said a column of 300 vehicles was approaching the capital, after seizing Oum Hadjer, a strategically important town in the central region of Batha, 400km (248 miles).
Security has been stepped up in N'Djamena, where most children have been sent home from school.Security has been stepped up in N'Djamena, where most children have been sent home from school.
The rebels want to drive the president from power. Two years ago they reached the capital before being repelled. A series of armed attacks on the UN refugee agency and other aid organisations has already led to the evacuation of staff from the UNHCR office in Guereda in the east.
A series of armed attacks on the UN refugee agency and other aid organisations has led to the evacuation of staff from the UNHCR office in Guereda in the east. Sudan accused
Clashes 'soon'
Chad's ambassador to the United States, Mahamoud Bechir, says the rebels are heavily armed and are not far from the capital but denied the government was on the verge of collapse.Chad's ambassador to the United States, Mahamoud Bechir, says the rebels are heavily armed and are not far from the capital but denied the government was on the verge of collapse.
"At the end of the day, I think they have committed a suicidal attempt, they have made a big mistake," the diplomat told the BBC's Network Africa programme."At the end of the day, I think they have committed a suicidal attempt, they have made a big mistake," the diplomat told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
EU force on risky mission "We're not at all threatened and the government is ready to give a lesson to them."EU force on risky mission "We're not at all threatened and the government is ready to give a lesson to them."
A spokesman for the rebel Union of Forces for Democracy (UFDD), Mahmat Hassan Boulmaye, told the BBC they wanted to overthrow President Idriss Deby's government.A spokesman for the rebel Union of Forces for Democracy (UFDD), Mahmat Hassan Boulmaye, told the BBC they wanted to overthrow President Idriss Deby's government.
"So far there hasn't been any clash with government forces, but this may happen soon, as the army has been sent to meet our troops. So it may well happen in the near future."
France's embassy has closed the French school in the city, French radio reports.France's embassy has closed the French school in the city, French radio reports.
On Tuesday, Chadian aircraft bombed rebel positions in the east near the border with Sudan.On Tuesday, Chadian aircraft bombed rebel positions in the east near the border with Sudan.
The peacekeeping force - known as Eufor Chad/CAR - to be deployed in Chad and the Central African Republic - was given final approval on Monday and will mainly contain French troops.The peacekeeping force - known as Eufor Chad/CAR - to be deployed in Chad and the Central African Republic - was given final approval on Monday and will mainly contain French troops.
France already has troops in Chad under a 1986 agreement to guarantee "territorial integrity", but rebel groups believe the French helped thwart the attempted N'Djamena attack in 2006.France already has troops in Chad under a 1986 agreement to guarantee "territorial integrity", but rebel groups believe the French helped thwart the attempted N'Djamena attack in 2006.
Rebels maintain the Eufor Chad/CAR will not be neutral.Rebels maintain the Eufor Chad/CAR will not be neutral.
Late last year, the UFDD declared a "state of war" against French and other foreign forces because it said they were "bringing diplomatic, strategic and logistical aid" to the president.Late last year, the UFDD declared a "state of war" against French and other foreign forces because it said they were "bringing diplomatic, strategic and logistical aid" to the president.
Mr Bechir accused Sudan of backing the rebels, saying Khartoum was "nervous" about the deployment of peacekeepers in Chad and more UN and African Union troops in Darfur.Mr Bechir accused Sudan of backing the rebels, saying Khartoum was "nervous" about the deployment of peacekeepers in Chad and more UN and African Union troops in Darfur.
"The are competing with time to stop that," the ambassador said."The are competing with time to stop that," the ambassador said.
Sudan has denied backing the Chad rebels and in turn accuses President Deby's government of backing Darfur rebel groups.Sudan has denied backing the Chad rebels and in turn accuses President Deby's government of backing Darfur rebel groups.