Fifa say Sudan, Chad game is on

[Gar-haye]

Fifa say Sudan, Chad game is on

 

There was violence in Omdurman over the weekend

Fifa say that Sudan's 2010 World Cup qualifier against Chad will go ahead as scheduled on 31 May.

 

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir broke off diplomatic relations with Chad after an attack on Khartoum at the weekend.

 

He blames Chad for backing the rebel group from Darfur which carried out the attack.

 

But football's world governing body insists that this will not affect the match, to be played in Omdurman.

 

"Preparations for this match are on track," said Fifa spokesman Nicolas Maingot said.

 

"We are in contact with the Sudan Football Association who are hosting the game."

 

Sudan and Chad are Group 10 of the joint 2010 World Cup and Nations Cup qualifiers, along with Mali and Congo.

 

[Gar-haye]

TIMELINE - Tensions between Sudan and Chad

 

(Reuters) - Sudan has accused neighbouring Chad of backing rebels who attacked the capital Khartoum at the weekend and has cut diplomatic relations.

 

Here is a chronology of recent Chad-Sudan tensions:

 

Jan/Feb 2004 - Thousands of refugees from Sudan's Darfur region arrive in Chad fleeing government bombings and raids by Arab Janjaweed militias.

 

April 9 - Chad brokers a ceasefire between the Sudanese government and two Darfur rebel groups.

 

April 11, 2005 - Chad suspends mediation, accusing Sudan of supporting Chadian rebels. It returns to mediation after promises from Khartoum that it would act against the rebels.

 

December 18 - Chad says its forces killed about 300 rebels after they launched a failed offensive on the border town of Adre. Sudan denies involvement.

 

Feb 8, 2006 - Chad and Sudan agree to put an end to their dispute at a meeting in Libya.

 

April 13 - Chad government forces fight off attack by rebels on the capital N'Djamena. Several hundred people killed. Deby breaks diplomatic relations with Sudan the next day.

 

Aug 8 - Chadian President Idriss Deby and Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir agree to restore ties.

 

Feb 1, 2007 - Rebels fighting to overthrow Deby launch an attack on Adre, before being beaten back.

 

Feb 22 - At a conference in Libya, leaders of Sudan and Chad pledge to redouble efforts to end border violence.

 

May 3 - Sudan and Chad sign a Saudi-brokered reconciliation deal in Riyadh.

 

Oct 25 - Chad and four Sudan-based Chadian rebel groups sign a "definitive peace accord" in Libya. At least two groups later abandoned the accord.

 

Feb 3, 2008 - Deby beats back rebels who got as far as the presidential palace in an attempt to oust him. Former colonial power France rallies behind Deby.

 

March 13 - Sudanese and Chadian leaders sign non-aggression deal in Senegal however Chadian rebels dismiss the peace pact the next day.

 

May 10 - Rebels make a lightning advance from the western Darfur region to attack Khartoum. About 65 people are believed to have been killed in the attacks.

 

May 11 - Sudan accuses Chad of backing the rebels and cuts diplomatic relations. Chad denies involvement.