Chad says Sudan-backed rebels attack southern base

April 9, 2006 (N’DJAMENA) — Chad’s government said insurgents backed by Sudan had attacked an army base in its southeastern border region on Sunday with the aim of derailing presidential elections set for May.

The Chadian army sent reinforcements to the garrison in the town of Haraze Mangueigne, close to the borders with Sudan and Central African Republic, to try to overcome the attackers, Communication Minister Hourmadji Moussa Doumgor said.

“The attackers in 22 vehicles used Central African territory to outmanoeuvre Chadian army units based in this border region,” Doumgor said in a statement. He made no mention of casualties.

“Fighting is ongoing around the area but the Chadian armed forces are about to push the attackers back … This attack was orchestrated by the Sudanese government, which has for several days … been delivering arms and munitions to various small groups of Chadians aiming to destabilise the country.”

There was no immediate independent confirmation of the fighting.

Chad and Sudan accuse each other of backing rebels fighting governments in N’Djamena and Khartoum but agreed at a summit hosted by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in Tripoli in February to stop insurgents setting up bases on their territories.

(Reuters)