In pictures: Fighting in Chad

There has been further heavy fighting in Chad's capital, N'Djamena, between government forces and rebels who pushed into the city on Saturday.

Smoke rose above the city and heavy arms fire rang out, as government forces supported by tanks and helicopters tried to drive back rebel fighters.

Aid agency Medecins Sans Frontiers said there were "a lot of dead bodies" after the fighting, and that the violence made it difficult to reach the wounded.

France, which maintains a military presence in its former colony, condemned the rebel assault but said it was staying neutral in the crisis.

French soldiers patrolled hotels and other sites in the city, including three locations where foreigners awaiting evacuation gathered.

These images, posted on YouTube, show French troops hunkered down inside the Meridien Hotel. Foreigners in the hotel on Saturday said nearby artillery fire shook the windows.

Scores of foreign nationals were evacuated early on Sunday from the city on a French military plane which flew to Gabon.

The leaders of the African Union - gathered for a summit in Ethiopia - on Saturday condemned the rebels and said they would not be recognised if they seized power.

Chad's government accuses Sudan of backing the rebels to undermine an EU mission to protect refugees from the crisis-hit region of Darfur.

Back

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Next