Fighting Rages Northeast of Chad's Capital  Nico Colombant
Government forces and rebels in Chad have been clashing
northeast of the capital N'Djamena, prompting the former
colonial power France to send in reinforcements to help the
army. Rebels say they want to overthrow President Idriss Deby if
he does not accept a power-sharing deal. VOA's Nico Colombant
reports from our West Africa bureau in Dakar.  Fighting with
heavy artillery started in the morning hours, Friday, about 100
kilometers northeast of the capital, around the town of
Massakory.  Government officials say they were able to easily
push back the rebel offensive, making what they called
"mercenaries from Sudan" flee back into the desert.  Rebels
taking part in the offensive said they had been able to set fire
to dozens of army tanks and vehicles and were pushing toward the
area of Massaguet, about 80 kilometers from the capital on the
main road. There was no independent confirmation on details of
the fighting.  Rebels also said they had columns r