Chad army 'repels Sudan militia'

About a million of Darfur residents are now displaced

Chad says its army killed 60 Sudanese Arab militia after they attacked a Chadian border village.

Defence Minister Emmanuel Nadingar said one Chadian soldier and seven civilians were also killed in Wednesday's clashes in the village of Djanga, eastern Chad.

Mr Nadingar told the AP news agency that cross-border raids by the militia had taken place for some time, but "that's not going to continue any more".

The militia have been raiding refugees from Sudan's war-torn region of Darfur.

More than a million people have been forced to leave their homes there since attacks on black African villages blamed on the feared Janjaweed Arab militia.

About 100,000 refugees from Darfur have sought refuge across the border in Chad.

The UN has accused Sudan of tolerating "ethnic cleansing" in Darfur, a charge the government in Khartoum denies.

Assessment mission planned

"We have an obligation to protect our population and our border and that's what we are going to do," Mr Nadingar, who is acting defence minister, said.

Over the last week, Mr Nadingar made several statements, warning Sudan that Chad's patience over the intrusions was running out.

"Every day, our army is tested by the Sudanese army," Mr Nadingar said, accusing Khartoum of "belligerence".

An African Union assessment mission is now attempting to deploy ceasefire monitors into the areas of conflict.