Rebels in Chad surrond Presidential palace

Reuters:

Chadian rebels seeking to overthrow President Idriss Deby battled their way into the capital N'Djamena on Saturday and fought government troops around the presidential palace, diplomats and residents said.

The sound of machine gun and heavy weapons fire could be heard in the capital as foreign embassies advised their citizens to stay in doors and take cover. Fighting was reported to be taking place around the presidential palace and the parliament.

"I can confirm they (the rebels) are in the city," a foreign diplomat told Reuters. The situation was confused and mobile phone networks were not working.

"Rebels are headed for the palace and are about two blocks from here. The rebels are winning," one foreign resident said in an email sent from the compound of a western embassy in N'Djamena, adding she could hear tank and mortar fire.

Rebels in pickup trucks mounted with machine guns had closed in on the capital of the central African oil producer in their most determined offensive in two years. They had fought confused battles with Deby's troops on Friday northeast of the city.

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Chad says the rebels, who advanced rapidly this week across the country from the eastern border with Sudan's war-torn Darfur region, are armed and backed by the Sudanese government. Khartoum routinely denies such accusations.

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If the rebels are supported by Sudan, it is very likely that they are Islamic supremacist which is bad for everyone. Sudan has been genocidal in its attacks on Christians to the south of it, as well as black Muslims in Darfur who don't fit the governments ideals of what a Muslim is supposed to be. While these rebels may not be affiliated with al Qaeda, they probably share its Islamic supremacist beliefs, which leads to destruction and intolerance.

CNN reports the rebels are in teh city and have been ransacking the country's parliament building. The rebels are also reported to be in the presidential palace. " There was no information about the whereabouts of Chad's President Idriss Deby."

The UN appears to be wringing its hands in impotency as it watches the events. It is not clear what has prompted the fighting although there is some suggestion it is between two ethnic groups. I believe Chad has some oil production and it could be a fight over revenues from the wells.

The CNN report appears to have the most up to date information on events.

AFP now reports that the rebels have control of the capital. However, "...Chad's foreign minister told AFP that Deby was at the presidency and the situation was under control in the city." That appears to conflict with what AFP is seeing, or perhaps he is parsing the meaning of "control."