The World - News from Feb. 8, 1987

Chadian forces fended off a Libyan attack on a key government-held northwest outpost, N’Djamena radio reported. It quoted a statement from the military high command as saying 19 Libyan soldiers were killed and 18 captured at Zouar. Two Chadian soldiers were reportedly wounded. Libyan troops, which support Chadian rebels battling the N’Djamena government, have occupied the northern half of Chad since 1983. Meanwhile in Paris, the daily newspaper Le Monde reported that France has sent several hundred more soldiers to Chad in the past few days. France had previously announced that it was redeploying its 1,400-man deterrent force backing the N’Djamena government.