This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7221632.stm

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
France sends extra troops to Chad Rebels battle near Chad capital
(about 4 hours later)
France is flying 150 extra troops to Chad's capital N'Djamena, amid reports of a rebel advance on the city. Rebels in Chad say they have clashed with government troops as they advance towards the capital, N'Djamena.
The reinforcements have been sent to protect French nationals, and will join 2,000 troops already stationed there. "We expect to be able to eat our lunch in N'Djamena," rebel spokesman Abderaman Koulamallah told the BBC.
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. The UN says it is pulling non-essential expatriate staff out of the city and France is flying in 150 extra troops to protect French nationals there.
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 clashes.
"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.
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 rebels have made a big mistake. We will teach them a lesson Mahamoud BechirChadian diplomat 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. The rebels have made a big mistake. We will teach them a lesson Mahamoud BechirChadian diplomat Living in fear in N'Djamena
A Chadian journalist has told the BBC that several sources report fighting between the town of Massaguet and the capital 80km (50 miles) away. The 3,700-strong contingent is supposed to protect refugees from Sudan's Darfur region and people displaced by internal fighting.
Other reports say the fighting is further away. Security has been stepped up in N'Djamena.
The AFP news agency reports that government forces sent to tackle the rebel advance in the east have returned to protect N'Djamena. The AFP news agency reports that government forces sent to tackle the rebel advance in the east have returned to protect the capital.
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.
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 already led to the evacuation of staff from the UNHCR office in Guereda in the east.
Sudan accused Lightning advance
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. Mr Koulamallah said the rebel coalition - made up of a column of about 300 vehicles - had fought off government troops on Friday morning.
THE REBEL COALTION Unified Military Command includes:Union of Forces for Democracy (UFDD) led by Mahamat NouriRally of Forces for Change (RFC) led by Timane ErdimiUFDD-Fundamental led by Abdelwahid Aboud Mackaye EU force on risky mission
"The government's forces have just attacked our positions. We pushed them back, and at the moment we are progressing towards the city of Massaguet," he said.
A Chadian journalist has told the BBC that several sources report fighting between the town of Massaguet and the capital 80km (50 miles) away.
But Chad's ambassador to the United States, Mahamoud Bechir 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.
class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7213551.stm">EU force on risky mission "We're not at all threatened and the government is ready to give a lesson to them." "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. Sudan accused
France's embassy has closed the French school in the city, French radio reports. France says it is flying in extra troops to boost the 2,000 troops already in the city under a 1986 agreement to guarantee "territorial integrity".
On Tuesday, Chadian aircraft bombed rebel positions in the east near the border with Sudan. Rebel groups believe the French helped thwart them in 2006, when they reached N'Djamena before being repulsed.
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.
Rebels maintain the Eufor Chad/CAR will not be neutral.
France is believed to have helped thwart the 2006 rebel attackFrance is believed to have helped thwart the 2006 rebel attack
The EU 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.
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.
Have you been affected by the issues discussed in this story? Are you in Chad or in France? Please send your comments by using the form below:
Have you been affected by the issues discussed in this story? Are you in Chad or in France? Please send your comments by using the form below:
Name
 Name