GOZ AMER, Chad, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Chadian officials blame Sudan-based Arab militiamen called Janjaweed for 20 civilian deaths in eastern Chad during clashes between security forces and raiders.
Officials say the Janjaweed, which is based in neighboring Sudan, launched many attacks from Darfur in the last year. Chad's government accuses the militia of mutilating victims.
The BBC says there have been "repeated warnings" that the Darfur conflict, in which more than 200,000 people have died, could spill into Chad and Central Africa.
Civilians fleeing eastern Chad have gone to the refugee camp Goz Amer in the Darfur region and administered by the U.N. Refugee Agency.
An unidentified aid worker told the BBC that the government response was "pretty strong," with a lot of Chadian army troops in the zone.
Governments in both Chad and Sudan have accused each other of supporting the other's rebels. Rebels in Chad tried earlier this year to overthrow Chadian President Idriss Deby.
The United Nations reports about 90,000 Chadians have been displaced.
Nearly 2 million people have been displaced in Darfur.
