Chad envoy to US says Sudan “must learn the lesson”
By Wasil Ali
February 4, 2008 (WASHINGTON) — The Chadian ambassador in Washington, Mahmoud Adam Bechir, said today that Sudan “must learn not to try and change other regimes” in light of the fighting between the government and rebels fighting for control of the capital Ndjamena.
Sudan’s state Minister for Foreign Affairs Sammani al-Wassila denied any involvement in the attack and called the Chad fighting an “internal affair.
“Despite all that the capital is under the control of Chadian security forces and all the mercenaries were pushed out and the army is in the process of chasing them” Bechir added.
The Chadian army said Sunday it had driven rebel forces trying to oust President Idriss Deby out of the capital and had thwarted a second rebel offensive on Adre, near the Sudanese border in the east.
However a rebel leader told AFP the opposition forces had only pulled back to the eastern edge of the capital to allow civilians enough time to flee the city before a new offensive.
The Chadian envoy said that Idriss Deby “is carrying out his normal functions as a president”. France said that Deby turned down a French offer to evacuate him into a third country.
Asked whether the alleged Sudanese involvement to the rebels amounted to a declaration of war, Bechir said that “we will not be the ones to declare war on Sudan”.
Bechir said that his government believes that the relation between the Chadian and Sudanese citizens is “deep rooted” voicing hope that things would return to normal between the two countries in the future.
The Chadian envoy said that the UN Security Council emergency meeting today “is a reflection of the quick nature of the attack”.
After 3 1/2 hours of discussions on a proposed statement condemning the rebel attack, the council adjourned debate until Monday because Russia’s delegation needed more time to consult Moscow over the text, diplomats said.
They said Russia had objected to the first French draft that called on U.N. members to support the Deby government “by all necessary means” — a veiled reference to military aid.
A later draft urged members to “provide support as requested by the government of Chad.” In his handwritten letter to the council, Chadian Ambassador Mahamat Adoum requested “all aid and assistance needed to help (Chad) end this aggression.”
France’s U.N. ambassador, Jean-Maurice Ripert, told reporters there was “almost a consensus” on the text. “We hope to be there tomorrow morning,” he said.
(ST)