Switzerland has advised around 100 of its citizens in the African state of Chad to stay in their homes after rebels attacked the capital N'Djamena, Swiss Radio International (SRI) reported on Thursday.

Switzerland has been in touch with its citizens through its consulate in N'Djamena, and "they have been asked to remain in their homes and wait," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lars Knuchel said.

He said the Swiss authorities were following events in Chad closely, but currently "there is no desperate need" to evacuate the Swiss citizens there.

According to the spokesman, despite the rebel attack, development projects run by the Swiss in the former French colony are working normally.

He added that should an evacuation prove necessary, the Swiss would be informed. Contacts had also been made with the French authorities on the spot.

Chad President Idriss Deby's forces fought off an early morning rebel attack on N'Djamena on Thursday, repelling their most daring attempt yet to capture the capital and oust Deby, media reports said.

After hours of artillery fire, Deby announced that the situation in the capital was under control.

Reports from France also said that French warplanes bombarded towns in the east of the country held by rebel forces.

Rebels of the United Front for Democratic Change have long been trying to oust Deby. Their attacks are aimed at preventing the president, who has been in power for 16 years, from being re- elected on May 3.

The United Nations, the United States and the former colonial ruler France are considering ways of bringing their citizens to safety.

Chad has been a priority country for Swiss development aid since 1993. The Swiss Development and Cooperation Agency has an office in N'Djamena with three representatives.

Aid projects are in the areas of agricultural and livestock production, basic education for adults and children and in the health sector.

Source: Xinhua