France moving troops to Chad

PARIS, France (CNN) -- The French Defense Ministry said Friday it is dispatching 140 soldiers from Gabon to Chad's capital of N'Djamena as a precaution to protect French citizens after renewed fighting between government troops and rebels.

The ministry spokesman said concerns were raised over the safety of French citizens by reports the Chad military had been fighting a rebel force hostile to President Idriss Deby north and east of N'Djamena.

A ministry spokesman said because of rebel activity in the former French colony, the decision was made to reinforce the garrison of French troops stationed in the city to "ensure the security of French citizens."

The French move came as U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said he is "deeply concerned at the resumption of fighting in Chad."

Ban's spokesman said he "deplores any action that could worsen the already grave humanitarian situation especially in eastern Chad where the international community is actively engaged in activities to provide relief and secure the voluntary, safe and sustainable return of refugees and displaced persons in eastern Chad and north-eastern Central African Republic."

On Thursday, after a series of armed attacks in the eastern Chadian town of Guereda, four staff members with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and 28 local and international staff members of UNHCR's implementing partners were relocated to Abeche, about 300 miles to the southwest. Local authorities do not have the necessary means to protect the aid workers, UNHCR said.

Only essential UNHCR staff remain in Guereda for the time being, operating in conjunction with refugee leaders at two camps, Mile and Kounoungou, where up to 30,000 Darfurian refugees reside.

Speaking from Abeche, UNHCR spokeswoman Annette Rehl described Guereda as "a place without law and order (where) people act with impunity." She cited car-jacking as the most pressing security concern there: "They need cars and telecommunications equipment."

The situation was brought to a head by tensions that have been brewing in the area since Monday between opposition forces and the Chadian National Army. She also referred to clashes between two ethnic groups, the Zaghawas and the Tamas, as affecting the local population.

Security concerns for refugees in Guereda remain high.

"If humanitarian workers are not around, it is impossible to provide adequate protection to the refugees," said Jorge Holly, head of the UNHCR field office in Guereda "But the situation here is getting out of control, and we also have to protect our staff and partners."

The U.N. refugee agency has 12 refugee camps, six field offices and over 200 employees in eastern Chad.

Asked when UNHCR staff would return to the camps, Rehl said, "We need to see how the situation moves, we are having security meetings. We have to see what happens in the political context. Tomorrow this could change. This is typical of Chad."

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Ciao Italy Travel's Guide to Rome

Rome, the eternal city, is filled with the air of past, present, and future. Fashionable Italians on their Vespa motor scooters crowd the streets of Via Veneto and Via Condotti amid a backdrop of broken marble columns and temple ruins. Yes, you are standing in Rome, the center of the Roman Empire some 2000 years ago. Rome managed to gracefully weave its past with today's engineering, fashion, and character, making it a vibrant city attracting visitors worldwide.

Aside from time-tested, breathtaking sites like the Colosseum, Pantheon, St. Peter's Basilica, and the Trevi Fountain, Rome is the nation's capital and serves as a major nexus of European business. As a result, global corporations have headquarters in this city alongside government offices and embassies.

Top 10 Things to See in Rome

Piazza di Spagna & Spanish Steps

Piazza di Spagna is the most famous square in Rome. Shaped like a crooked bow tie and surrounded by muted, shuttered facades, Piazza di Spagna draws crowds nonstop during the day year-round and well into the night in summer. The steps were built in the 1720s to link the square with the French church of Trinita' dei Monti.

Trevi Fountain

Nicola Salvi's theatrical design for Rome's largest and most famous fountain was completed in 1762. The central figures are Neptune, flanked by two Tritons, one trying to master an unruly seahorse, the other leading a quieter beast, symbolizing the two contrasting moods of the sea.

The Vatican

Vatican City, the world capital of Catholicism, is the world's smallest state. It occupies 106 acres within high walls tended by the Vatican Guards. It was the site where St Peter was martyred and buried, and it became the residence of the popes who succeeded him. The Papal palaces, next to the great basilica of St. Peter's, are home to the Sistine Chapel, the eclectic collections of Vatican museums, and, of course, the Pope.

Trastevere

Trastevere is a picturesque old quarter whose inhabitants consider themselves to be the only true Romans. The proletarian identity of this site slowly transforms each year due to the growth of nearby trendy restaurants, clubs, and shops.

Colosseum

Rome's greatest amphitheatre was commissioned by Emperor Vespasian in 72 CE. Deadly gladiator combats and wild animal fights were staged by emperors and wealthy citizens, most likely to gain popularity. Slaughter proliferated: at the inaugural games in 80 CE, over 9,000 wild animals were killed. The Colosseum could hold up to 55,000 people, seated according to rank.

Roman Forum

In the early Republic, the Forum was a chaotic place with food stalls, brothels, temples, and the Senate House. By the 2nd century CE, it was decided that Rome required a more salubrious center, and the food stores were replaced by business centers and law courts. The Forum remained the ceremonial center of the city under the Empire, with succeeding emperors renovating old buildings and erecting new temples and monuments.

Piazza Navona and Surroundings

No other Piazza in Roma can rival the theatricality of Piazza Navona. The luxurious cafes are the social center of the city. Day and night there is always something going on in the pedestrian area around the flamboyant Baroque fountains. The Baroque is also represented in many of the area's churches. To discover an older Rome, walk along Via del Governo Vecchio to admire the facades of Renaissance buildings, browse in the fascinating antiques shops, and lunch in one of many trattorias. Rome's most beautiful Baroque piazza follows the shape of a 1st century CE stadium built by Domitian, which was used for athletic contests. Until the 19th century, the piazza was flooded in August by stopping the fountain outlets. The rich would splash around in carriages, while street urchins paddled.

Pantheon

The maze of narrow streets around the Pantheon is a mixture of lively restaurants, cafes, and some of Rome's finest sights. This is also the city's financial and political district, home to Parliament and other governmental offices. The Pantheon itself, with its awe-inspiring domed interior, has long been a symbol of the city. The Pantheon, the Roman "Temple of all Gods," is the most extraordinary and best-preserved ancient building in Rome.

Castel Sant'Angelo

The massive fortress of Castel Sant'Angelo takes its name from the vision of the Archangel Michael by Pope Gregory the Great in the 6th century as he led a procession across the bridge, praying for the end of the plague.

The castle began life in 139 CE as the emperor Hadrian's mausoleum. Since then it has been a bridgehead in the Emperor's Aurelian city wall, a medieval citadel and prison, and a place of safety for Popes during times of political unrest. A corridor links it with the Vatican Palace, providing an escape route for the Pope.

Palatine

The Palatine, once the residence of emperors and aristocrats, is the most pleasant of Rome's ancient sites. The ruins range from the simple house in which Augustus is thought to have lived, to the Domus Flavia and Domus Augustana, the public and private wings of a luxurious palace built by Domitian.