afrol News, 5 August - At least seven people were killed and fifteen wounded in a blast at Chad's capital N'Djamena central market, officials said. A rocket believed to have been left over from a rebel attack on Chadian capital in February is reported to have caused the blast.

Interior Minister Ahamat Mahamat Beshir said an explosion happened when a rocket discovered in market area was being moved, confirming that it was one of those abandoned bombs by rebels during an attack in February.

Police sources said an investigation has been launched to unravel as to what could have caused an explosion yet a bomb was discovered.

President Idriss Deby has described an attack as an attempt by Sudanese government to not allowing deployment of European Union forces in the region and also to oust him. But Sudan has denied the accusations.

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.

Rebels launched a surprise attack in February after dashing more than 1,000 kilometres across the country aboard some 300 pick-up trucks and came close to overthrowing the regime of President Idriss Deby Itno before being repulsed by superior army firepower.

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 region saying it would consider appropriate measures against groups considered a threat to stability.

Debby has been ruling Chad since 1990 when he launched a coup d'etat. He has won three elections since then, but his challengers have accused his government of nepotism, favouritism and endemic corruption.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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