(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-06 15:18

PARIS - French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Tuesday his country could intervene militarily in Chad if there was "compelling need" to do so.

French soldiers evacuate foreign nationals in N'Djamena in this photograph released by the French Defence Ministry February 3, 2008. [Agencies]

"If France must do its duty, it will do so," Sarkozy said adding "no one should doubt it."

Sarkozy's comment came amid the UN Security Council statement on Monday allowing France and other countries to help the Chadian government to repel the rebels.

The statement called on member states to "provide support, in conformity with the United Nations Charter, as requested by the government of Chad."

Sarkozy said the over 1,000 troops already based in Chad have remained neutral in the fighting between Chadian government troops and rebel forces, except for last Friday's incident when troops opened fire to protect French civilians.

The president said France would stay away from Chad's internal crisis unless the country becomes "a victim of an aggression."

France has a long-standing military cooperation agreement with Chad mainly for the provision of logistical, medical, training and intelligence gathering assistance, but not direct military intervention. Amid the recent clashes, six French Mirage F1 jet fighters based in N'Djamena airport were moved for "security reason" to other bases in the region, but they have continued to carry reconnaissance missions over Chad.

The alliance of rebels which launched attacks on N'Djamena on February 1 has accused France of "causing enormous civilian casualties " in the capital during "direct interventions" by its aviation. But France has so far denied any direct involvement in the fighting, insisting it was only conducting and coordinating the evacuation of foreigners from Chad.

The rebels declared Tuesday they had agreed to the principle of an "immediate cease-fire."

The fighting in the Chadian capital triggered a massive exodus of refugees to the neighboring countries, especially to Cameroon where thousands of refugees have since Saturday streamed to the border town of Kousseri. Humanitarian aid agencies and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) have arrived on the site to review the situation.

   1 2   

   1 2