Chad's government says at least 225 rebels and 22 soldiers were killed in two days of clashes [AFP]

"It is a decisive victory," Adoum Younousmi, Chad's defence minsiter, said on Saturday.

The Chadian government says at least 225 rebels and 22 soldiers were killed in two days of clashes on Thursday and Friday south of the main eastern city of Abeche.

South of Abeche, in the town of Am-Dam, government forces showed off their booty and prisoners to journalists, who also saw dozens of  bodies and burned-out vehicles.

A source from the rebel Union of Resistance Forces (UFR) claimed their forces were still massed southeast of Abeche and intent on taking the capital, at least 600km away to the west.

Adeline Mendji, a Ndjamena resident, said: "The rebels are capable of surprise at any moment … The government forces must monitor everywhere, not only in the east."

Adam Mustafa Ibrahim, the governor of Abeche, said: "Security forces are on alert; they are patrolling the borders and control the situation.

"We do not pay attention to rumours, but if there is solid information regarding rebel movements, we will attack them as we have before."

'Breaking off ties'

Chad also threatened to break off relations with Sudan if fighting continued.

Idriss Deby Itno, the president, renewed his accusations that UFR rebels who are  vowing to take Ndjamena are being backed by Sudan, claims that Khartoum rejects.

"The government must re-evaluate relations between Sudan and Chad, and envisages - if the situation does not evolve positively - the rupture of these relations," he told the nation on Saturday.

"To this end, Sudanese cultural centres must be closed and schools financed by Sudan must be taken over by the Chadian government."

International criticism

The United Nations Security Council on Saturday condemned an incursion into eastern Chad by rebels based in Sudan.

All 15 ambassadors agreed to a non-binding statement that "condemns the renewed military incursions in eastern Chad of Chadian armed groups, coming from outside," meaning Sudan.

The UN statement also stressed that "any attempt at destabilisation of Chad by force is unacceptable".

The European Union and African Union have also spoken out against the rebel offensive.

Javier Solana, the EU foreign policy chief, condemned "the acts of violence by armed groups coming from Sudan in the east of Chad".

"I call on them to renounce violence and begin negotiations with the Chad government," he said.

Meanwhile, Ramtane Lamara, the African Union's peace and security commissioner, condemned "all kinds of anti-constitutional change of government, and acts of destabilisation".

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