Fighting escalated on Sunday morning in southeastern Chad with rebels launching attacks on an army base, the Chadian government said in Capital N'Djamena.

The United Front of Democratic Change (FUC), an alliance of nine Chadian guerrilla groups, attacked a garrison in the town of Haraze Mangueigne, 20 km from the border with Central African Republic, the Chadian government said in a communique, which had been confirmed by the FUC.

"Fighting is still going on," said Minister of Communication and government spokesman Hourmadji Moussa Doumgor, who added that rebels in 22 vehicles had outmaneuvered government forces using Central African Republic territory.

The FUC, which has sworn to oust Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno, announced they had also taken control of Am Timane and Abou Deia, but this was denied by government military sources.

A faction of the rebel alliance, the Chadian Rally for Democracy and Liberty (RDL) launched attacks at the end of March, during which a nephew of the president was killed. The leader's relative had been an army commander.

The instability in Chad comes ahead of the May elections, in which President Deby hopes to extend his 15-year rule in the central African country.

Source: Xinhua