Chad

N'Djamena accuses Khartoum of attack

Article published on the 2008-06-18 Latest update 2008-06-19 15:45 TU

Chadian rebels move towards Gos Beida
(Credit: Reuters)

Chad accused Sudanese soldiers of attacking the border town of Ade with helicopters, according to a government statement. The attack could not be independently confirmed. The two countries broke of diplomatic relations in May after a group of Darfur rebels stormed a town outside Khartoum. Chad denied any involvement in the action.

Both countries have been at odds with each other for the past five years as they have regularly accused each other of fomenting cross-border attacks.

In another development, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana defended the European force, or EUFOR, on the ground in Chad Tuesday after Chadian President Idriss Deby accused the force of favouring Chadian rebels.

Rebels attacked an area near Goz Beida Saturday, and Irish EUFOR soldiers returned fire, confirmed Christina Gallach, Solana's spokesperson in Brussels. No casualties were reported.

"The Irish troops returned fire when they were deployed in order to protect IDPs [Internally Displaced People] and refugee camps" which is part of their mandate, she said.

EUFOR was sent to Chad in mid-March to protect civilians, including Darfur refugees who have crossed the border, and facilitate aid work to the the people in camps like Goz Beida, which hosts 80,000 Chaidans and 36,000 Sudanese.

Rebels attacked Biltine on Monday, some 750 kilometres east of the Chadian capital. They have vowed to attack Njamena again after a failed coup attempt in February.