Chad's army has killed 43 Islamic militants during two days of heavy fighting near the border with Niger, the government said today.
The government said in a statement that those killed belonged to the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, a hardline Algerian Islamic militant group that recently pledged its allegiance to al-Qaeda.
"The government forces have neutralised the threat from the terrorists," the statement said.
It said the 43 Islamic militants killed included nine Algerians and nationals from Niger, Nigeria and Mali - all countries where the United States fears al-Qaeda is recruiting militants and setting up cells.
The statement said three people were killed and 18 wounded on the government side and that loyalist forces had seized weapons, including heavy machineguns, vehicles and satellite phones from the enemy.
