N'DJAMENA (Reuters) - Chad's security forces have killed more than 60 followers of a Muslim spiritual leader who had threatened to launch a holy war in the African country in defence of the Islamic faith, the government said.
Government soldiers fought with the disciples of the"marabout" or holy MAN (MAN.XE) Ahmat Ismael Bichara, who were armedwith swords, spears and bows, after surrounding his base onSunday at Kouno, 300 km (185 miles) southeast of N'Djamena.
"I'm sorry to say that there were 66 dead and 51 seriouslywounded (among the followers of the marabout)," SecurityMinister Ahmat Mahamat Bachir told journalists in the capitalN'Djamena. He corrected a previous toll he gave of 63 dead.
Bachir added that four members of the Chadian securityforces were killed and six wounded in the fighting on Sundayand Monday at Kouno.
Chad's government had said on Tuesday that 12 of Bichara'sfollowers and two members of the security forces had initiallybeen killed in Sunday's operation.
"It's a regrettable toll, but we think we now control thesituation caused by the actions carried out by theseterrorists, these extremists," Bachir said.
The Muslim holy man had declared he wanted to fight againstcorruption of the Islamic faith and restore justice in Chad.
Landlocked oil producer Chad is a lay state, but just overhalf of its population are Muslims.
The largely arid, racially mixed country has suffered wavesof violence over the last few years, including inter-ethnicclashes, raids over the eastern border from Sudan by Janjaweedmilitia, and successive attacks by anti-government rebels.
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(Reporting by Moumine Ngarmbassa, Writing by PascalFletcher, editing by Mary Gabriel)
