The president of Chad has declared a nationwide state of emergency, saying it was needed to restore order after the recent coup attempt in the capital.
In a speech broadcast on state media, Idriss Deby said the emergency powers would French jail terms for Chad kidnap ...
Chadian defence minister sacked ... be in effect for 15 days.
They include a night-time curfew and controls on the movement of vehicles.
The rebels, who Chad claims are backed by Sudan, were driven from N'djamena after two days of fighting and back towards the eastern border with Sudan.
Mr Deby said the decree instituted "measures important and urgent to maintain order, guarantee stability and assure the good functioning of the state".
It also authorised "house searches and controls on the private and public press".
Meanwhile, France has acknowledged that its forces transported weapons to Chad's army as it beat back the rebel assault.
The former colonial power said it had acted in accordance with a military co-operation agreement between the two countries.
EU force
The assault began on 2 February, when the rebels seized control of large parts of the capital, approaching the palace where Mr Deby was holding out.
The Red Cross said more than 160 people were killed and 1,000 injured in the fighting.
Mr Deby has accused Sudan of being behind the coup bid.
But Khartoum has previously denied accusations that it backs Chadian rebels by allowing them bases in its border region of Darfur in neighbouring Sudan.
A European Union peacekeeping force is due to arrive in Chad this month, which has a UN mandate to protect civilians and refugees from violence in Darfur, and to provide security for aid agencies.
The deployment of the 4,000-strong force was delayed by the rebel attacks.
Mr Deby seized power in a coup in 1990, but has won three elections since then, although their legitimacy has been challenged.
(BBC)
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