Chad calls for EU deployment as rebels regroup

N'DJAMENA (Reuters) - President Idriss Deby called on theEuropean Union on Thursday to deploy a peacekeeping forceurgently to eastern Chad, as his government sought to tightensecurity after a weekend rebel assault on the capital.

Prime Minister Nouradine Delwa Kassire Coumakoye announceda dusk-to-dawn curfew across the capital N'Djamena and swathesof east and central Chad after the remnants of the rebel columnwhich attacked the city withdrew halfway to the Sudan border.

A spokesman for the rebels, Ali Ordjo Hemchi, said they hadtaken the town of Mongo, 600 km (375 miles) east of N'Djamena,and were being bombed by French warplanes and helicopters.

There was no independent confirmation of this. Formercolonial power France, which has over 1,000 troops stationed inthe central African oil producer, has denied rebel allegationsit is supporting Deby militarily.

As calm returned to the dusty riverside capital, hundredsof refugees, who fled to Cameroon after the weekend clashesthat killed at least 160 civilians, returned over the riverborder.

Emergency workers in N'Djamena scooped up bodies with anearthmover on Thursday, as people cleared debris from damagedbuildings. Army pick-ups packed with turbaned soldiers spedaround streets littered with burned out vehicles.

The renewed conflict has delayed the deployment of a3,700-strong EU peacekeeping force to eastern Chad to protecthalf a million Sudanese refugees and displaced Chadians whohave fled violence spilling over from Sudan's Darfur region.

Relief officials said the unrest threatened to provoke ahumanitarian crisis by blocking aid flights. The European Unionhad started deployment of its force last week but suspended italmost immediately due to the rebel attack.

"We want to launch a solemn appeal to the European Union,and France ... to make sure that this force is put in place asquickly as possible to lighten the load we are carrying," Debysaid in an interview broadcast on France's Europe 1 radio.

A spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Javier Solanasaid the deployment would start again once the situation wasclearer.

"It's a question of security, as soon as the operationcommander and the force commander decide the situation isclear, the deployment will resume," Solana's spokeswoman,Cristina Gallach, said.

BLAME GAME

Deby, who accuses Sudan of backing the rebels, said theinternational community had given Khartoum "the green light todestabilise Chad" by not condemning its role. The U.N. SecurityCouncil issued a non-binding statement on Monday urging membersto support Deby, but spurned France's request to mention Sudan.

Khartoum, which denies backing the rebels, said on Thursdayit had joined Libyan-led mediation efforts and had been behindthe insurgents' decision to withdraw from N'Djamena.

"Sudan called for evacuation of the opposition fromN'Djamena and the opposition agreed," the powerful head of theintelligence forces Salah Gosh told state Sudan Vision daily.

The rebels, who fought their way into N'Djamena on Saturdaywith a column of 300 pick-ups mounted with cannon and machineguns, have long accused Paris of propping up Deby's 18-year-oldgovernment, which they call corrupt and dictatorial.

France initially said it was "neutral" as fighting raged atthe weekend, but has since thrown its full weight behind Deby.President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Tuesday his country wouldintervene if needed against the insurgents.

In an apparent gesture of gratitude, Deby, a formerFrench-trained helicopter pilot, said he could pardon sixmembers of French charity Zoe's Ark sentenced to eight years inprison by Chad for abducting children, if France requested it.

A spokesman for Sarkozy said on Thursday France would passon any request for a pardon from members of Zoe's Ark, who areserving their jail terms in France.

Aid workers said at least 160 corpses lay in N'Djamena'sthree main hospitals and as many as 850 more people were beingtreated for bullet wounds and injuries from mortar fire.

Residents said security forces rounded up leading membersof Chad's political opposition on Sunday night, as the fightingin the capital subsided. Human rights groups said on Wednesdaysoldiers were also trying to arrest civil rights campaigners.