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| Thousands of refugees flee Chad | Thousands of refugees flee Chad |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of refugees are streaming out of Chad into Cameroon, placing heavy strain on the Cameroon town of Kousseri near the border, the UN has said. | Thousands of refugees are streaming out of Chad into Cameroon, placing heavy strain on the Cameroon town of Kousseri near the border, the UN has said. |
| It said up to 20,000 people had crossed the river border since Saturday, when rebels stormed the capital N'Djamena. | It said up to 20,000 people had crossed the river border since Saturday, when rebels stormed the capital N'Djamena. |
| The UN's refugee agency said aid supplies and better accommodation were urgently needed for the refugees. | The UN's refugee agency said aid supplies and better accommodation were urgently needed for the refugees. |
| The rebels have now retreated from N'Djamena, and France has threatened to step in if they launch another assault. | The rebels have now retreated from N'Djamena, and France has threatened to step in if they launch another assault. |
| Former colonial power France has 1,400 troops in Chad and has helped to evacuate foreigners from the city. | Former colonial power France has 1,400 troops in Chad and has helped to evacuate foreigners from the city. |
| 'Continuous flow' | 'Continuous flow' |
| On Tuesday, "frightened people were still crossing in a continuous flow" from Chad into neighbouring Cameroon, said the UN's refugee agency in a news release. | On Tuesday, "frightened people were still crossing in a continuous flow" from Chad into neighbouring Cameroon, said the UN's refugee agency in a news release. |
| Thousands have deluged Kousseri in Cameroon, UNHCR said. | Thousands have deluged Kousseri in Cameroon, UNHCR said. |
| I telephoned my friend in N'Djamena and he told me that my mother, my father and my fiancee had all been shot - I don't know whether to cry or kill myself "Mohammed", refugee Refugee's gruelling escape | I telephoned my friend in N'Djamena and he told me that my mother, my father and my fiancee had all been shot - I don't know whether to cry or kill myself "Mohammed", refugee Refugee's gruelling escape |
| While some have found refuge with relatives, in schools or hotels, it said, between 6,000 and 7,000 were staying out in the open at a transit centre near the bridge. | While some have found refuge with relatives, in schools or hotels, it said, between 6,000 and 7,000 were staying out in the open at a transit centre near the bridge. |
| UNHCR said it planned to move these people to an old campsite some 30km away which could hold up to 100,000 people and was equipped with wells. | UNHCR said it planned to move these people to an old campsite some 30km away which could hold up to 100,000 people and was equipped with wells. |
| Two UNHCR aid airlifts are due to arrive this week in the border area. | Two UNHCR aid airlifts are due to arrive this week in the border area. |
| More than 3,000 refugees have also gone on to Nigeria. | |
| One refugee, who preferred not to give his name, escaped the fighting in Chad and fled south to Nigeria. | One refugee, who preferred not to give his name, escaped the fighting in Chad and fled south to Nigeria. |
| "I am now in Kano but have no money left and don't have my documents," he told the BBC. | "I am now in Kano but have no money left and don't have my documents," he told the BBC. |
| "I don't know what to do. I telephoned my friend in N'Djamena and he told me that my mother, my father and my fiancee had all been shot. I don't know whether to cry or kill myself." | "I don't know what to do. I telephoned my friend in N'Djamena and he told me that my mother, my father and my fiancee had all been shot. I don't know whether to cry or kill myself." |
| French threat | French threat |
| France said it would be prepared to intervene in the conflict, after a UN Security Council statement "strongly condemned" the rebel offensive. | France said it would be prepared to intervene in the conflict, after a UN Security Council statement "strongly condemned" the rebel offensive. |
| href="/1/hi/world/africa/7225023.stm">Q: Rebellion in ChadFrench diplomatic tight-rope | |
| Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said he "hoped" the French troops in the city would not have to intervene. | Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said he "hoped" the French troops in the city would not have to intervene. |
| President Nicolas Sarkozy said France would "do its duty" if necessary. | President Nicolas Sarkozy said France would "do its duty" if necessary. |
| The tripartite alliance of rebels, meanwhile, has offered a ceasefire, news agencies reported, but it was unclear on what terms. | The tripartite alliance of rebels, meanwhile, has offered a ceasefire, news agencies reported, but it was unclear on what terms. |
| Spokesman Abderaman Koulamallah told AFP news agency the rebels were bowing to diplomatic pressure to halt their offensive against the government of President Idriss Deby. | Spokesman Abderaman Koulamallah told AFP news agency the rebels were bowing to diplomatic pressure to halt their offensive against the government of President Idriss Deby. |
| But another spokesman, Henchi Ordjo, told Reuters the ceasefire was conditional on President Deby stepping down. | But another spokesman, Henchi Ordjo, told Reuters the ceasefire was conditional on President Deby stepping down. |
| Prime Minister Nouradine Delwa Kassire Coumakoye was dismissive of the offer. | Prime Minister Nouradine Delwa Kassire Coumakoye was dismissive of the offer. |
| "Why a ceasefire?" he told French TV station France 24. | "Why a ceasefire?" he told French TV station France 24. |
| "They don't exist any more. With whom would we sign a ceasefire?... We've got them under control." | "They don't exist any more. With whom would we sign a ceasefire?... We've got them under control." |
| Sudan accused | Sudan accused |
| African Union mediators are due in the city to try to end the fighting. | African Union mediators are due in the city to try to end the fighting. |
| The violence has led the European Union to delay sending its planned peacekeeping force to Chad. More than half of this 3,700-strong force will be French. | The violence has led the European Union to delay sending its planned peacekeeping force to Chad. More than half of this 3,700-strong force will be French. |
| The force was meant to protect refugees displaced by the conflict in Darfur and aid workers. | The force was meant to protect refugees displaced by the conflict in Darfur and aid workers. |
| The latest rebel offensive began on the day the first troops had been meant to arrive. | The latest rebel offensive began on the day the first troops had been meant to arrive. |
| Chad has accused Sudan of backing the rebels to stop the peacekeepers getting too close to Darfur. Sudan denies the charges. | Chad has accused Sudan of backing the rebels to stop the peacekeepers getting too close to Darfur. Sudan denies the charges. |