Chad's President Idriss Deby Itno claimed a "stunning victory" over rebels on Wednesday and said government forces were in "total control" of both capital and country after fierce fighting in Ndjamena. "We have total control not only of the capital but of the country," Deby told a press conference, the first he has addressed since the start Saturday of the weekend's battle for Ndjamena itself.
Clad in military uniform, he said there were "rebels who have fled, there are some still in Ndjamena disguised as civilians, there are some trying to get back to the border" with Sudan.
"We're at their heels and we shall catch them before they get back to Sudan," he said, adding that Chad was "attacked from abroad".
Deby was speaking after more than half an hour of talks with French Defence Minister Herve Morin, who arrived in Ndjamena on an unannounced visit to show support for its former colony in central Africa.
"Relations between France and Chad have always been fine," Deby said. "France did not fail in its commitments. France has strongly upheld its commitment regarding the aggression."
"We owe the stunning victory to valiant Chadian national forces," he added.
The rebels fell back from Ndjamena but warned civilians to flee ahead of a new assault, then said Tuesday they had agreed to a conditional ceasefire under strong diplomatic pressure.
"The (French) defence minister has come to talk to us and investigate the situation and see ... what we can do together to save Chad," Deby said. "France's support was a major help to us."