Regional heads of state in central Africa have backed Chad in its dispute with neighboring Sudan over a brewing rebellion in eastern Chad.
At a meeting Wednesday of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community in Chad's capital N'djamena, Chadian President Idris Deby accused Sudan of harboring and supporting Chadian rebels, including those involved in a December attack on the Chadian town of Adre, near Darfur.
Sudan, which was not present at the meeting, has denied the accusation.
In a statement, the six member states condemned any attempt to destabilize Chad and gave their support to the Chadian president. The union also urged the African Union to investigate the matter.
The union groups Chad, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the Republic of Congo.