New York - The UN Security Council ended a late Sunday meeting without taking a position on the fighting in Chad's capital of N'Djamena while Secretary General Ban Ki-moon appealed for a ceasefire and protection for refugees. The 15-nation Security Council was urgently convened when bands of armed rebels entered N'Djamena and engaged in combat with government troops around the presidential palace in an attempt to unseat the government of President Idriss Deby.
The Security Council said it planned to meet Monday to pursue discussion on a possible statement on the situation. The urgent meeting was called by France and the three African nations that are council members: South Africa, Burkina Faso and Libya.
Ban said through his spokesperson that he was "profoundly alarmed by the dangerous situation in Chad, particularly in light of heavy fighting in several parts of the capital city of N'Djamena."
"We urge all parties to ensure the safety and security of all civilians as well as international humanitarian workers and United Nations staff in Chad," the UN spokesperson said.
"The secretary-general further called on all parties to immediately cease hostilities and engage in dialogue so as to prevent further bloodshed."
The fighting inside the capital surprised the UN and the European Union, which was poised to deploy 3,700 peacekeepers to the Sudan- Chad border to protect refugees. Diplomats said that the 15-nation council may issue a statement on the situation.
Ban said he was concerned by the deterioration of the humanitarian situation for some 285,000 refugees and 180,000 internally displaced people in eastern Chad under the care of international relief groups. Most of the refugees have fled the fighting in Sudan's Darfur region.
"He urges all parties to ensure the safety and security of all civilians as well as international humanitarian workers and United Nations staff in Chad," the spokesperson said.
News reports said Sunday that splintered groups of rebels based in Sudan, which were closing in last week on N'Djamena, succeeded in breaking through and entered the capital in the boldest attempt yet to overthrow Idriss. The reports said that France also rushed fresh troops to bolster the 300 French troops already in N'Djamena for the purpose of evacuating French nationals.
The reports said that troops loyal to Idriss apparently were able to repulse the rebels.
