Rebels in Chad have briefly occupied the town of Am Dam, coming within 600km (350 miles) of the capital N'Djamena.

A spokesman for the National Alliance said that government troops had not offered much resistance.

Chadian authorities confirmed the town had fallen but said Am Dam had not been protected by government Sudan cuts Chad ties after Darfur rebel attack ...
JK Rowling wants action on Darfur ... troops.

On Saturday, rebel leader Adelaide Abound MacKaye said the anti-government forces were intent on taking N'Djamena itself by Sunday.

After leaving Am Dam, the rebels continued moving towards the capital.

Earlier, the rebels had launched an attack on the town of Goz Beida, near the border with Sudan, which is home to 15,000 Darfur refugees.

In February, they reached the presidential palace in Ndjamena before being repelled.

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.

(BBC)

<< Back