French forces turn the heat on Libya

Press, 30 January 1984, Page 10

French forces turn the heat on Libya

NZPA-Reuter Paris French forces have extended their control over Chadian territory in what military analysts in Paris see as a.big strategy shift aimed at forcing Libya out of the vast central African country. French helicopter crews yesterday conducted a reconnaissance mission over a new defence zone secured on Saturday after troops moved about 100 km north of the former French “red line” across central Chad. The crews detected “no hostile presence” and no new clashes have been reported in Chad since rebel forces shot down a French Jaguar plane on Thursday. Military analysts said sandstorms raging in the war zone for the last three days had hindered an immediate French retaliatory strike against the Libyanbacked rebels of Goukouni Oueddei. But France had signalled a change in strategy by advancing its troops, they said. The move brings French soldiers to the forward de-

fence line established by the Government forces of President Hissene Habre just 200 km south of the main rebel bases at Fada and Faya Largeau. New combat planes are also being flown to the Chadian capital, N’djamena, from Gabon and southern France to triple the strike capacity of the French air force in the country. “It is no longer a question of stopping the Libyan penetration in Chad and in the process saving the regime in N’djamena as was the case in August. It is a question of making Tripoli retreat,” the newspaper “Le Monde” reported. Paris despatched 3000 troops to help Government forces halt a rebel drive southward in August. Hostilities ended with a military stalemate which failed to produce a diplomatic solution and effectively partitioned the country. Although Tripoli has consistently denied having troops in Chad, France said it blamed Libya for last week’s incidents, and the French Defence Minister, Mr Charles Hernu, warned that France would respond to any attack on its forces.