Chad rebels seek foreign support for new elections
February 24, 2008 ( N’DJAMENA) — One of Chad’s main rebel groups called on the international community on Sunday to push for new elections in the turbulent central African state.
The Union of Forces for Democracy and Development (UFDD), one of three rebel factions which launched a failed assault on the Chadian capital N’Djamena this month, accused President Idriss Deby’s government of a witchhunt against opposition politicians and rival ethnic groups.
“The resolution of the Chad crisis must involve a round-table dialogue with the politico-military movements, opposition parties and civil society to create a peaceful transition to free and fair elections,” the UFDD statement said.
“The UFDD calls for the help of the international community for the success of this round table and political transition.”
After the Feb. 2-3 battle for N’Djamena, which killed at least 160 civilians, the rebel forces have withdrawn to eastern Chad. They still vow to overturn Deby’s 18-year rule in the oil producing state, which they say is corrupt and dictatorial.
Chad’s government came under pressure last week from the European Union to hold talks, as an EU peacekeeping force deploys to the country’s east. Instability there is hampering international efforts to deliver aid to half a million refugees from Sudan’s Darfur region and Chadians displaced by violence.
On Thursday, Foreign Minister Ahmat Allam-Mi said in Brussels after meeting senior European Union officials that the government was talking “at this moment” with the rebels, who attacked the capital this month. He gave no further details.
The rebels strongly denied any talks were taking place.
The UFDD also appealed to the United Nations, African Union and European Union to call for the release of all Chad’s political detainees, including three opposition leaders allegedly abducted by soldiers in the dying hours of the battle for N’Djamena.
Deby’s government has acknowledged it is holding former President Lol Mahamat Choua as a “prisoner of war”, but it denies any knowledge of the whereabouts of the two other men.
(Reuters)