Life resumes after Chad rebel attacks

By Arnaud Zajtman
BBC News, N'Djamena

In the streets of the Chadian capital, normal activities like shopping and trading have replaced fighting.

N'Djamena's parliament building was badly hit

Last weekend's clashes in the city centre between government forces and rebels from the east have caused great devastation.

But despite all the difficulties, life here seems to be starting again.

The building that used to house the national radio station has been destroyed but broadcasting has now resumed from a neighbouring block.

In N'Djamena's main street, many of the Lebanese-owned shops are still closed, but people have begun selling products again in the market.

A baker told the BBC that even though he is still not receiving any supplies at the moment, he is selling bread at the usual price because "people need to eat".

We do our best, we are trying to save lives Dr Majeta, N'Djamena hospital

Now that it is safe to move around town, people who suffered relatively minor injuries are also making their way to the hospital.

More than 1,000 people have been wounded.

The director of the general hospital in N'djamena, Doctor Majeta, said things were now much calmer.

Uncertain future

But he said they still had their work cut out to cope with more than 250 patients - mostly suffering from bullet wounds.

"We do our best, we are trying to save their lives."

Most of those admitted to hospital have bullet wounds

The Chadian government ministers have also resumed their activities.

After their first cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister Nouradin Kassire Koumakoye blamed the recent attacks on the Sudanese army.

He vowed to chase the rebels and crush them before they return to Sudan, which has denied backing the rebels.

The prime minister said he had no idea of the whereabouts of three opposition leader who were arrested in their homes in the Moursal district - an opposition stronghold in the south of the capital.

Opposition leader Jean Alengue, who is urging political dialogue with the government, said his colleagues had been arrested by the army and he feared for their lives.

The prime minister also announced a curfew across parts of the country from 1830 to 0600.

But the curfew does not affect the French army planes or the Chadian army's helicopters.

At the airport in N'Djamena, the army is launching operations to gather intelligence on where the rebels might be hiding in the desert.

For now, life for ordinary Chadians looks a bit better, but with rebels thought to be around 500 km (312 miles) from N'Djamena, the future is still very uncertain.