Anti-government rebels in Chad have launched an attack on the town of Goz Beida, near the border with Sudan donor conference opens in Oslo ...
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The United Nations reported fighting in the town, which is home to 15,000 Darfur refugees.

One rebel spokesman said Goz Beida had fallen to his forces. The rebels reportedly began their offensive in the east of the country on Wednesday.

On Friday, a Chadian minister said the rebels were under orders from Sudan and that the army would push them back.

Communication Minister Mahamat Hissene told the BBC that "mercenaries acting under the orders of Sudan" had launched the offensive.

"We are ready for confrontation even now," he said.

"I think the army will succeed in pushing them out of our territory."

Proxy war

The latest fighting in Goz Beida, which is 75km (46 miles) from the Sudanese border, is reported to be fierce.

Rebel columns of between 80 and 100 trucks were seen racing towards Goz Beida, according to news agency Reuters.

The rebels have threatened to advance towards the capital, N'Djamena, which they last attacked in February.

The UN has said Sudan and Chad are fighting a proxy war through each other's rebel groups.

Chad closed its border with Sudan last month and suspended economic ties.

That came after Sudan cut diplomatic relations with Chad following an attack by Darfur rebels near the Sudanese capital, Khartoum.

Sudan accuses Chad of backing rebels in Darfur - charges denied by Chad.

The two countries have signed numerous peace deals but these have never held.

Chadian rebels tried to overthrow President Idriss Deby in February in an attack on N'Djamena.

(BBC)

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