CHAD/LIBYA/U.S./FRANCE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01070R000200820010-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 27, 2008
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: August 10, 1983
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2008/06/27: CIA-RDP88-0107OR000200820010-7
ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT
10 August 1983
C :AD/LIPYA/ JENNINGS: Good evening. The war ir. Chad raises many questions,
". S./-RF.NCE some long-range. and some short. Does it matter who wins? How,
if at all, will American interests be affected in north Central
Africa? And what will a victory for the rebels, if it happens,
mean for their principal supporter, Libya's Cal. Khadafy?
Tonight, the immediate question centers on the northern oasis
town of Fava-Largeau. That's the principal scene of the
fighting today between th.e government and the rebels. Has it
faller.? No one is absolutely sure, though reports from Chad's
capital tonight suggest its immediate future may be hanging in
the balance. We begin our report on this former trench colony,
overseas with ABC's Pierre Salinger in Paris.
SALINGq: Rebel forces headed by former Chadian President
Goukouni Oueddei, supported by Libyan troops, tanks and aircraft
opened a massive attack this morning on the strategic oasis of
Faya-Largeau in, the north of Chad. There is growing fear in
defense and diplomatic circles here that the military situation
in Chad is deteriorating rapidly, posing a se?ions thereat to the
future of the French and American-backed government of President
Hissene H:abre. Some 2,500 of Habre's best troops have been
surrounded in. Faya-Largeau for a week. Goukouni's
representative in Paris, "Abduron !iussa. claimed Faye-Largeau
had fallen into the hands of the rebels. In the capital,
N'Djamena, the Chadian information minister conceded iiabre's
troops were in serious trouble and said the attack had been
beaten back after three hours of hard fighting. Thus the fate of
Faye-Largeau remains in question. What is confirmed is that
Libya is deeply involved in the conflict. ABC News Has learned
from a former mercenary pilot who worked for the Libyans that
ether mercenary ri' many of then recruited b7 the former C3A
a?ent own Meson. have been fivia up to six fli hts a day an
C-_ nercuies transports from Sabhah. in Libya. to
`ya-:.argeau, tr anspor t in troops and a-Ms We we.
they ve also been flyin? sh p tomold
i ment_ o_ a small i_ian fighter
plane to provide air cover for advancing ground troops. French
paratroopers, who have been stationed in the Central Africa
Republic, were ordered into the Chad capital, N'Djamera, last
night. The first contingence arrived today. J.nd French
government sources said a total of 600 paratroopers are being
dispatched to Chad as training instructors to shore up the
Chadian army. A number of American advisers, seen here in
civilian clothes, are already in Chad to instruct the army in
the use of Red-Eye missiles sent by the Reagan administration.
If Taya-Largeau has really-fallen, and with it 2,500 of izabre's
best troops--reportedly 85i of his army. It will be a heavy blow
to Habre and his French and American supporters. It will open
the road to the Libyan-backed rebels to re-establish domination
over Chad. Pierre Salinger, ABC News, Paris.
CQN 1NUED
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 Approved For Release 2008/06/27: CIA-RDP88-0107OR000200820010-7
a.
JENNINGS: Well, two more questions: What will the French, or
what will the United States do to prevent the rebels from taking
over northern Chad and then perhaps advanci
ca ng South to Chad's
pital of N'Djamen; : Beres our senior correspondent John
Scali.
SCALI: 50p U.S. intelli ence is warning that France is
unwilling to deploy enough military force to stop attacking
Libvan forces from seizing all northern Chad. The French
strategy appears to be to accept a partial Libyan military
victory in order to avoid a major confrontation with Col.
Khadafy, which would endanger French economic and financial
interests' in Libya. Paris insists there is no alternative in
view of the unpopularity with the French public of the
pro-Western liabre government. President Mitterrand is reported
ready as needed, however, to send substantial ground forces plus
air power to help keep the capita] of N'Djamena from falling.
If they are sent, French reinforcements will join some 2,500
troops from Zaire who are being air-lifted to N'Djamena by
American planes. In backstage talks, U.S. administration
leaders have made it known they will not substitute American
personnel to carry out military responsibilites the U.S.
believes the French should show. American aid will not be
escalated, officials say. No U.S. troops will be sent to Chad.
t'. S. intelljgence believes that ever a partial victory will
threaten Libya's neighbors, particularly Niger, a former French
colorv with uranium deposits.. President Reagan is reported
disappointed that the French are not doing more to stop Khadafy.'
But French authorities explain that French public opinion would
not back a major French military involvement in Chad any more
than American public opinion will support American military
intervention in El Salvador. John Scali, ABC News, Washington.
Approved For Release 2008/06/27: CIA-RDP88-0107OR000200820010-7