Chad rebels take town

Press, 27 June 1983, Page 11

Chad rebels take town

NZPA-Reuter N’djamena The Chadian Government confirmed yesterday that Libyan-backed rebels now controlled about one-third of the huge central African nation after capturing the strategic northern town of Faya-Largeau. An emergency Cabinet meeting in the Chadian capital, N’djamena, confirming the serious set-back in a statement, said that loyal troops had made a “tactical evacuation” from the desert oasis early on Saturday. Meanwhile Chad accelerated diplomatic efforts to stop Goukouni Oueddei’s rebel army, after an appeal for a United Nations Security Council debate. Chad’s President, Mr Hissene Habre, who was born at Faya-Largeau in 1941, sent his Justice Minister, Mr Oudalbaye Naham to the Gabonese capital, Libreville, with a message for the President, Mr Omar Bongo. Mr Bongo arranged peace talks last year between Mr Habre, Mr Goukouni, the former President, and leaders of other Chadian factions which have been fighting a civil war in the former French colony for 17

years. The talks were unsuccessful. Mr Goukouni has denied consistently that Libya has provided troops or military hardware to help his six-month offensive in the north. But Western Powers and moderate African States agree with Mr Habre’s Government that the Libyan Air Force and artillery have given crucial help to the 3500-strong rebel army. The degree of Libyan complicity in the 36-hour attack on Faya-Largeau is still unknown, but Mr Habre

has accused Libya of direct military intervention. France has said that it will not remain indifferent if Libya takes part, raising hopes in N’djamena of French support if the rebel advance continues. Mr Goukouni’s men now control the road south to N’djamena but loyal garrisons at Salal and Moussoro remain in their way. In the past rebel forces normally have attacked the south only after gaining control of the city of Abeche in the east of the country. But impending rains, which' could hold up mechanised columns, may have hampered Mr Goukouni’s plans. In June, 1981, Mr Habre became President after his Northern Armies forces seized N’djamena. In November, 1981, Libyan troops who had been invited in by Mr Goukouni’s coalition Government in 1980, were ordered out by the new Habre Administration. The Libyan pull-out did not include their leaving of a strip of territory around Aouzou, on the border with Libya, which is rich in uranium and which Libya annexed in 1973.