(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-05 06:23

UNITED NATIONS - The UN Security Council strongly condemned Monday attacks against the Chadian government by armed groups this past weekend.

In a presidential statement read out by Ricardo Alberto Arias of Panama, the council's president for this month, the 15-member body called on all states in the region to cooperate in putting an end to the activities of armed groups and "their attempt to seize power by force" in the central African country.

The council also welcomed a decision by the African Union to mandate the Libyan leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, and President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of the Congo to engage the Chadian parties with a view to ending the fighting and forging a lasting solution to the crisis.

The council expressed its concern regarding the direct threat that the combats pose for the safety of the civilian population, including internally displaced persons and refugees.

The council also expressed its concern over the safety and security of humanitarian personnel, UN personnel and European Union personnel and material deployed in Chad.

"It underlines that all parties have a responsibility to ensure the protection of all these personnel and of the diplomatic personnel present in Chad," the statement said.

During the Monday meeting, which followed Sunday's emergency session, the council discussed a letter from the government of Chad requesting the support of all states to "provide all aid and assistance needed to help it end this aggression."

In the nonbinding statement, the council called upon member states to "provide support, in conformity with the United Nations Charter, as requested by the government of Chad."