Chad: Desert War Heats Up

Chad’s 20-year civil war took a startling, bloody turn last week as some 2,000 rebels battled three Libyan columns in Chad’s Tibesti mountain region. The guerrillas, who earlier helped Libya gain a foothold in northern Chad, broke with Libyan Strongman Muammar Gaddafi after his troops shot and wounded Rebel Leader Goukouni Oueddei last October.

France last week joined the increasingly international battle by air- dropping supplies to the rebels, who are now backed by Chad President Hissene Habre. Meanwhile, the first of some $15 million in U.S. emergency military aid arrived last week in the Chad capital, N’Djamena, for the fight against Libya.