CHAD: NEW CLASHES ON SUDAN/CHAD BORDER

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000101 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MOPS PGOV PREF PREL CD SUBJECT: CHAD: NEW CLASHES ON SUDAN/CHAD BORDER ¶1. (U) In what was apparently a combined operation, UFDD (Union of Forces for Democracy and Development),RAFD (African Assembly of Democratic Forces) and RNDP (National Assembly for Democracy and Progress) rebels attacked Adre in the early hours of February 1. Humanitarian aid workers in the area report that fighting between Chadian army and rebel forces was heavy. The rebels claim that they now hold Adre, but the Government and other sources claim that this is not true. ¶2. (U) Foreign Minister Al Alami convoked the diplomatic corps, reporting that the Chadian Army (ANT) had repelled the rebel attacks and was now on the offensive. He said that the ANT was pursuing the retreating rebels into Sudan. The Foreign Minister characterized Sudanese involvement as reflecting its &expansionist and racist8 policy toward Chad. 3 (SBU) Embassy sources have suggested that recent withdrawal of some ANT forces from Adre to the Guereda area may have emboldened the rebels to attack. Various sources report more overt Sudanese military involvement. ¶4. (SBU) According to UNHCR sources, although fighting continues, the rebels did not take Abre. One source with the Sudanese rebel movement said that the fighting was over and that the Chadian rebels were back inside Sudan. There have also been reports of rebel activity north of Lake Chad. WALL