The United Front of Democratic Change (FUC), an alliance of nine Chadian guerrilla groups, announced on Wednesday night that they had taken control of 80 percent of the country's territory and were advancing towards Chadian capital N'Djamena.

Laona Gong, the Front's representative in Paris, said in a televised speech that the anti-government forces led by the FUC have "arrived in places less than 200 meters from the capital."

Gong, former foreign minister of Chad also said the anti-government alliance was yet to have any concerted administrative principles and program, but that the rebel groups were united in achieving their goal to "topple the government of President Isdriss Deby Itno" and "re-initiate the democratic process in the country."

For the past three days, the Chadian government troops have been fighting the rebels in the east and central part of the country.

France, the country's former colonial ruler, confirmed on Wednesday the FUC's advance, saying that their vanguard troops could reach the capital in no more than two hours.

The French Foreign Ministry on the same day said that the French troops deployed in Chad were made under a state of alert. The troops have started patrolling in order to evaluate the conflict in the country.

France stationed a 1,200-strong force in the country. Under existing cooperation accords between the two countries, the French troops can only provide intelligence support to the Chadian government.

The instability in Chad came ahead of the May elections, in which the rebels will try oust President Deby, who hopes to extend his 15-year rule in the central African country.

Source: Xinhua