Chadian army: rebels driven out of capital

YAOUNDE, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Chadian army said late Sunday in a statement that it had driven the rebels out of the capital N'Djamena and also thwarted an attack on the eastern town of Adre.

According to reports reaching here from N'Djamena, the statement said the Chadian security forces had quashed the rebels' offensive on the capital and forced them to retreat.

The rebels now pose no threat and the army troops are seeking a victory with hot pursuit, the statement added.

However, rebel forces said they had made a tactical withdrawal from the capital to meet up with reinforcements from the east with fresh ammunition and supplies to make further attacks.

Heavy fightings broke out last Friday near N'Djamena between government security forces and armed rebels, arousing grave concerns around the world.

Meanwhile, Sudan denied the Chadian government's accusation that it masterminded the rebel offensive in a bid to install a Sudan-friendly administration in N'Djamena.

A statement issued by the Sudan side described the conflict in Chad as Chad's internal affair, saying Sudan did not intervene in it.