Chadian President Idriss Deby and a rebel leader signed a deal
in the Libyan capital of Tripoli late on Sunday to end the ongoing
fighting in Chad, according to reports reaching here.
"This is a great day for us. Today we made a step forward on the
path toward peace in Chad," Deby said at the signing ceremony with
Mahamed Nour, leader of the United Front for Democratic Change.
Nour, whose troops launched a failed attack on the Chadian
capital of N'djamena in April, said the deal was a New Year gift
for the Chadians, which would bring national reconciliation and
peace.
He also called on other rebel groups to sign the peace agreement
and join the the Chadian government.
Deby and Nour met at the weekend with Libyan leader Muammar
Ghaddafi working as a mediator, Libya's official Jana news agency
reported.
The Chadian government declared a state of emergency in November
in the capital N'Djamena and eastern areas following clashes which
killed some 400 people.
(Xinhua News Agency December 25, 2006)
