Chad rebels claim town

Press, 17 February 1978, Page 5

Chad rebels claim town

NZPA-Reuter Paris A rebel movement fighting to overthrow the military Government of the African State of Chad said yesterday that the northern regional capital was now cut off, after the capture of another town. In a communique realeased in Paris the Chad National Liberation Front (Frolinat, said its northern armies had seized the town of Fada. in the north-eaft. Frolinat representatives said the regional capital of Faya Largeau was now isolated from the rest of the country’, and “will fall in a matter o. days.” There was no confirmation oF the fall of Fada in Chad’s I

capital, N’Djamena, where officials have accused Libya of being directly involved in the fighting. The Libyans had denied this.

French officials expressed serious concern over the whole military situation in northern Chad.

Frolinat guerrillas, said by their representatives in Paris to number some 7000 men, say they have alreadygained control over Chad’s north-western area in clashes with Government forces last spring. These clashes led France to fly urgent military supplies to Chad, and French planes were also used to evacuate Government troops from the abandoned towns of Bardai and Zouar.