Annan, UN council condemn Chad rebel assault

UNITED NATIONS, Apr 14: UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the UN Security Council expressed concern today about the worsening security situation in Chad and condemned a rebel attempt to seize power by force.

Annan was ''greatly troubled'' by the fighting and ''strongly condemns once again any attempts to seize power by force or other unconstitutional means'', said his chief spokesman, Stephane Dujarric.

The UN leader called for peaceful negotiations to resolve political differences.

Security Council members, in a separate statement, condemned any attempt to seize power by force in Chad and called on the rebel forces to put down their arms and take part in the democratic process.'' In the statement read to reporters by Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya, the council president for April, the UN body also urged Annan and the African Union to offer the parties any help they could to address the crisis.

Chadian President Idriss Deby told French radio earlier today that he was in the presidential palace and the situation in the city was under control after rebel forces attacked the capital N'Djamena.

Residents of the capital sheltered in their homes as rebels fought government troops.

Security Council members, fearful the intensification of fighting in Chad could undermine efforts to reach a peace deal in neighboring Sudan's western Darfur region, also appealed to the parties in that conflict to quickly reach agreement in talks in the Nigerian capital Abuja.

Reuters