Chad calls for European deployment

French Defense Minister Herve Morin meets Chadian President Idriss Deby on Wednesday in N'Djamena, Chad. PHOTO: AP

Chadian President Idriss Deby issued a "solemn call" yesterday for a planned European force to quickly take up positions in Chad.

The EU peacekeeping force had been set to deploy in Chad to protect refugees from Sudan's war-torn Darfur and others who have been displaced.

The force has delayed deployment because of a rebel attack on the Chadian capital, N'Djamena, that began last week and ensuing violence. However, Deby has said he is in full control of the situation.

He told France's Europe-1 radio that had the force already been deployed it would have "lightened the load," allowing him to remove troops at the border protecting refugees from Darfur.

On Wednesday, Deby declared a "stunning victory" over rebel forces and said he was back in control, as Red Cross officials put the toll from clashes at more than 160 dead.

During a press conference in N'djamena, Deby said there were "rebels who have fled, there are some still in N'djamena disguised as civilians, there are some trying to get back to the border" with Sudan.

"We're at their heels and we shall catch them before they get back to Sudan," he said, adding that Chad had been "attacked from abroad."

Deby spoke after more than half an hour of talks with French Defense Minister Herve Morin, who arrived in N'djamena on an unannounced visit on Wednesday.

"France did not fail in its commitments," Deby said. "France has strongly upheld its commitment regarding the aggression."

However, rebel spokesman Abderaman Koulamallah said on Wednesday that the insurgents had pulled back "to better camouflage themselves," about 70km from the capital.

"We warn France against all direct intervention otherwise things could very badly degenerate for it," he said by satellite telephone. "It would risk losing face in Chad and endanger the lives of all its nationals in Africa."

Military officials said yesterday that rebels forces about 400km from the capital had joined forces with those who attacked N'djamena over the weekend.

Meanwhile, Deby also Europe-1 radio yesterday that he was "ready to pardon" six members of the small French aid group Zoe's Ark convicted in December of trying to kidnap 103 children they said were orphans from Darfur.

Deby said he could only issue a pardon on a demand from France but that "I am ready to pardon" the six, who were sentenced to eight years of hard labor by a Chad court.

The six were returned to France and their sentences were converted last month to eight years in prison by a French court.