Rebels in Chad 'accept ceasefire

Rebels who attacked Chad's capital Ndjamena over the weekend said Tuesday they accepted the principle of an immediate ceasefire, and blamed France for creating "enormous" civilian casualties. France denies involvement in the fighting.

"Aware of the suffering of the Chadian people, and in line with the peace initiatives of fraternal countries Libya and Burkina Faso, the forces of national resistance have given their agreement to an immediate ceasefire," rebel spokesman Abderaman Koulamallah told AFP by satellite telephone.

(Another spokesman told Reuters the rebels would accept a cease-fire only if President Idriss Deby steps down. "We're for a ceasefire if mediators can find a solution in which President Idriss Deby is separated from power," rebel spokesman Henchi Ordjo told Reuters by phone.)

Koulamallah added that the rebels were shocked by the "direct involvement of France in the conflict," alleging that French warplanes had caused "enormous" civilian casualties during the fighting, notably at the Liberte (Freedom) high school and Ndjamena's central market.
  
Travelling from bases inside Sudan, the rebels crossed the width of Chad - which hosts French military forces -- last week to mount an unsuccessful weekend offensive in Ndjamena against President Idriss Deby's regime.

(In an interview with FRANCE 24, Chadian Prime Minister Nouradine Delwa Kassiré Komakoye said that Chad was being attacked by neighbouring Sudan. He declared in French that “the authorities are not accusing Sudan of assisting the rebels. We are saying we are under a Sudanese attack, because those who attacked us came from Sudan as an army”.)

  
Koulamallah said the tripartite rebel alliance wanted a ceasefire to be followed by "a non-exclusive national dialogue with a view to a peaceful resolution of the Chadian conflict (and) the installation of a truly democratic political regime".
  
Rebel sources said there had been "very strong" diplomatic pressure Monday for the insurgents to accept a ceasefire.
  
In their statement, the rebels said they were "shocked at the direct involvement of France in the conflict".
  
They went on to "condemn the direct intervention of French (military) aircraft which caused an enormous number of civilian victims, notably at the Liberte lycee and the central market".
  
Other sources have not been able to confirm to AFP that French Mirage fighters based in Chad had opened fire during the conflict.
  
The rebels also condemned "the arbitrary and unjustified arrest of political opponents" and demanded their immediate release.

AFP