UN condemns renewed fighting in eastern Chad

The UN Security Council on Friday condemned "renewed military excursions" by outside rebel fighters operating in eastern Chad, following the signing of a deal over the weekend to normalize relations between Chad and Sudan. Council members said they deplored the actions of "Chadian armed groups coming from outside," according to statement by Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, this month's council president. He said the council also stressed that attempts to destabilize Chad by force were unacceptable. The council demanded that all rebel armed groups put down their arms immediately, and all sides in the fighting restart peace talks.