Government admits casualties in fight with rebel

Government troops have lost eight dead in clashes this month with rebels in the mountainous northern Tibesti region but remain in full control of the area, a ranking official in the Chadian Ministry of Communications told IRIN on Thursday. The official, who would not be identified, confirmed reports quoting Communications Minister Moussa Dago on Wednesday as saying that 28 soldiers were wounded early November in fighting rebels of the Movement for Democracy and Justice (MDJT) in Chad, in the country’s northern districts of Omou and Aozou. Dago said the army killed 37 guerrillas in Omou on 2 November, AFP said. Reuters reported that Dago’s comments, aired on state radio, were the first official public reaction to rebel claims on Sunday that it had captured Aozou and killed at least 80 government troops. These rebels, led by former defence and interior minister Youssouf Togoimi, have been fighting the government since October 1998. The movement has vowed to enter the capital, Ndjamena by the end of this year.