afrol News / IRIN, 13 September - Government military planes, vehicles and troops were flooding in and out of the military hub Abéché in eastern Chad today following fighting with rebels in the region earlier this week. Government and rebels confirmed fighting took place on Sunday in the remote, mountainous region of Aram Kole, 65 km from the town Biltine, and 150 km north of Abéché. Both sides claimed victory.

In an announcement yesterday evening, Banyana Kossingar, the army Chief of Staff, said on national radio: "We attacked the mountains at Aram Kolle on Sunday 10 September at 14.00. The combat lasted for three hours. 168 rebels were killed, many more wounded, and 28 rebels were taken prisoner. On the government side, six were killed and several wounded. The situation is totally under control now," Mr Banyana added.

Rebel spokesperson Laona Gong Raoul, contacted by the UN media 'IRIN', countered that an alliance of rebel groups, the United Front for Democratic Change, had beaten off the Chadian army, killed hundreds of soldiers, and hold their position at Aram Kolle.

Sunday's fighting is the first major combat between the army and rebel groups that have vowed to overthrow Chadian President Idriss Déby since clashes in mid-April that left over 200 dead. Then, the rebels reached the capital N'djamena before being turned back by the army. The rebels have since stayed in their strongholds in eastern Chad, along the Sudanese border.

A senior Chadian army officer, who asked not to be named because he was speaking without authorisation, told 'IRIN' on Wednesday that Chad's military chiefs are planning more attacks in the same area. Rebel groups had been sighted close to Sunday's combat zone, said the officer, adding that "Nierguil" and "Am-Zoer" would likely be targeted first, though neither location appears on commercial maps.

Security in eastern Chad is a major concern for the United Nations and aid agencies, which are feeding and housing a quarter million Sudanese who have fled attacks in the neighbouring Darfur region of Sudan. The weekend's fighting however took place over 100 kilometres from the closest refugee camps near Guereda, east of Biltine.

Nevertheless, conditions are already tense as dozens of aid agency vehicles have been stolen in a spate of armed hijackings forcing aid workers working outside Abéché to travel in armed convoys. In May, a worker with the UN children's agency UNICEF was involved in a near-fatal shooting in Abéché. Over the weekend a UNHCR warehouse in Abéché was looted.

UN officials contacted in Abéché said the reinforcement of the army there is a concern, because members of Chad's disorderly military are believed to be behind some of the attacks on aid workers.

"There is already a high level of insecurity, especially with regard to crime and theft," said Matthew Conway, spokesperson for the UN's refugee agency UNHCR in Abéché. "So far we have not seen major fallout but we are planning for the worst case scenario while hoping for the best."

Chad recently re-established diplomatic relations with Sudan, which it has accused of hosting the rebels. Sudan has denied it is supporting the rebels, and accused Chad of being sympathetic to groups opposed to its leadership. As part of a recent agreement, the two sides committed to stop hosting rebel groups.

Diplomats in N'djamena contacted by 'IRIN' said it was too early to tell whether the reappearance of rebel groups in eastern Chad means Sudan has started expelling the groups. "It would be very artificial to assume that this is happening because Sudan has taken a firm stand and pushed the Chadian rebels out, although that is a possible scenario," a diplomat said.

By UN media IRIN

© afrol News / IRIN

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