Chad says its forces destroy rebel bases in Sudan

EL-GENEINA, Sudan (Reuters) - Chadian government forces crossed the border into Sudan after repulsing a rebel attack on a border town and destroyed several rebel bases on Sudanese territory, a minister said on Monday.

Scores of Chadian soldiers deserted their barracks in late September before regrouping near the border, and the government has accused Sudan of using the deserters to fight rebels in Darfur and of backing Chadian rebel activities.

Chadian army deserters launched a failed offensive on the town of Adre on Sunday but were pushed back in fighting that claimed about 100 lives. Chad accused Sudan of backing the attack.

"These attacks were repulsed by the national army, which using its right of pursuit, destroyed some of the rebellion's bases in Sudanese territory," Chad's Foreign Minister Ahmat Allam-Mi said in a statement.

The clashes raised tensions in Sudan's Darfur where rebels have fought Sudan's central government for almost three years.

Chad's Communications Minister Hourmadji Moussa Doumgor said military operations in Adre were continuing on Monday.

"The clean-up is continuing," he told Reuters.

Doumgor said army deserters allied to the rebel Rally for Democracy and Liberty (RDL) mounted Sunday's attack.

Yaya Dillo Djerou, who calls himself leader of a similar group called Platform for Change, National Unity and Democracy (SCUD), said some of his men participated in Sunday's attack.

"A few of our troops have participated in the action in Adre but it is being led by RDL," Djerou told Reuters. "Yesterday we took control of the city," he said. But he declined to say if they were still in control.

The deserters, also accused of attacking army bases in the capital N'Djamena, have demanded President Idriss Deby resign.

Deby hails from the Zaghawa tribe, which spans both sides of the border and is one of the main Darfur rebel tribes.

A number of Darfur rebel commanders fought in the uprising which brought Deby to power, a revolt which was launched from Sudan's remote west, a vast area the size of France.

Doumgor said on Sunday Chadian forces would chase the rebel elements over the frontier into Sudan if necessary.

A Sudan foreign ministry spokesman denied any involvement.

Sudanese army sources reported sporadic fighting in recent days, crossing over the long, porous border between the countries, but said the Sudanese army was not involved.

Both Darfuri rebels and aid workers in the region have reported large troop movements over the past two weeks near the border, with reports of Chadian troops patrolling on the Sudanese side of the border.