Chad says “state of belligerence” exists with Sudan

Dec 23, 2005 (N’DJAMENA) — Chad said on Friday a “state of belligerence” existed between itself and its neighbour Sudan following attacks on a border town by rebels it said were armed by the Sudanese government.

“Chad is today in a state of belligerence with Sudan,” the government said in a statement which described Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir as an “enemy of Chad”.

Foreign Minister Ahmat Allam-Mi said the Sudanese ambassador in N’Djamena had been summoned to the ministry on Friday and given a memorandum listing “Sudan’s aggressions against Chad”.

Chad has accused the Sudanese government of directing two attacks on December 18 by Chadian rebels against the town of Adre on its eastern border with Sudan.

It says its forces repulsed the assaults, killing about 300 of the attackers, pursuing the rebels over the border into Sudan and destroying their bases there.

“The government calls on the Chadian people to mobilise against this Sudanese aggression,” the Chadian statement said.

(Reuters)