Chad Reports It Has Checked Drive by Libyan-Backed Rebels

N'DJAMENA, Chad — The government said Saturday that it has checked a five-day Libyan-backed rebel offensive, while eyewitnesses reported that French military aircraft were delivering arms and ammunition to strengthen President Hissen Habre’s forces.

A statement issued at the end of a Cabinet meeting said government forces are in control of a string of towns and military garrisons south of the so-called “Red Line” splitting the country in two.

In Paris, French Premier Laurent Fabius said Chad government forces had repulsed a fresh offensive by rebels led by former President Goukouni Oueddei. Fabius said he got his information about the fighting from French Defense Minister Paul Quiles’ report to President Francois Mitterrand on Saturday morning.

Quiles visited N’Djamena on Thursday and Friday for talks with President Habre about the situation. He then went to the neighboring Central African Republic to inspect 1,500 French troops stationed there for use in any possible intervention in Chad, a former French colony in north-central Africa.

Rebels Dispute Reports

In the Libyan capital of Tripoli, however, a spokesman for Chadian rebel forces said they still held areas captured over the past week, and denied reports that government troops had regained lost territory. Beassouma Nadjita said the insurgents still held five positions captured in northern Chad, including Oum Chalouba, Biltine and Ziguey.

France sent 3,000 troops to Chad in August, 1983, to halt an offensive by rebel and Libyan troops driving southward toward N’Djamena. They were halted about 200 miles north of the city.

The French withdrew in November, 1984, after an agreement with Libya for a mutual pullout, but said any attack below the truce line would result in a return of French troops. The French said Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi reneged on the agreement and never withdrew his troops.