afrol News, 18 June - Chad has accused Sudanese soldiers of helping rebels attack one of its frontier military camps, amid already strained relations between the two east African states.

The attack came as rebels opposed to Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno claimed further advances on the capital N'djamena.

Chad's communications minister, Mahamat Hissene, alleged that Sudanese troops backed by two army helicopters on Tuesday helped rebels attack a post in Bakout, about 470 miles east of N'djamena.

Mr Hissene said one Chadian army vehicle was destroyed, but could not confirm whether or not fighting in Bakout continued.

"The Chadian army's reaction will be similar to the arrogance shown by the Sudanese regime," charged the minister said in a statement.

For its part, Sudan denied accusations and no independent confirmation of the border offensive has yet been made.

Sudanese government explained that whenever rebels scored against Chad, government put the blame on Sudan.

"After dispatching columns of mercenaries to Chad and failing to secure strategic areas, the Sudanese army took matters in its own hands today and attacked Ade, backed up by helicopters," a Chadian government statement said.

"By openly engaging their troops and air force, Khartoum has finally thrown off its mask," the statement further said, warning that Chad's "response will be sterner than Sudan is expecting".

Relations between two neighbours have been sour for more than five years. Each country has over the years reportedly accused one another of supporting rebel factions fighting against their respective regimes.

Diplomatic relations broke off in mid-May after an attack near Sudan's capital, Khartoum, by a Darfur rebel group, the Justice and Equality Movement. However, Chad denied any involvement in the onslaught.

Chadian rebels claimed on Tuesday that they had wrested control of another eastern town and captured a senior military officer after fresh fighting.

European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana has meanwhile defended the role of the EU forces in Chad, (EUFOR), further rejecting accusations by President Deby that EUFOR was in cahoots with the rebels.

"The force's mission hasn't changed. There is no other function than the function chosen for the force. Everyone is strictly acting within the mandate," he was quoted as saying.

EUFOR was stationed in eastern Chad to protect displaced people and refugees fleeing from war-ravaged Darfur in neighbouring Sudan.

The EU is deploying 3,700 troops, including 2,200 French soldiers, to help protect 300,000 Sudanese refugees and 187,000 Chadians uprooted by conflict in eastern Chad and neighboring Sudan's Darfur.

Meanwhile United Nations has also come up saying rebel offensive in eastern Chad threatens to destabilise the region. The Security Council denounced the upsurge in violence over the past week and said it ``stands ready to consider appropriate measures against'' groups considered a threat to stability.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the Security Council and the African Union Commission on Monday condemned the attacks.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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