The French troops in Chad said on Wednesday that they spotted Chadian rebels in the area within about an hour and half's drive from the capital of N'Djamena, said local reports.

The insurgents were discovered by French Mirage F1 fighters on Wednesday afternoon, several hours after Chadian Defense Minister Bichara Issa Djadallah announced that the government forces have regained control over the city Mongo, not more than 400 km east of N'Djamena.

Mongo fell into the hand of the rebel troops on Tuesday, but the government forces later fought back.

The rebels launched their attacks and occupied the region of Haraz Manguegne on the border with the Central African Republic on Monday. They also seized the eastern city of Koukou on Tuesday.

Chad will hold presidential elections on May 3. Incumbent President Idriss Deby Itno was expected to be the frontrunner in the race, but the opposition has called for a boycott of the elections.

Source: Xinhua