September 10, 2003

Fighting flared up as MDJT rebels claim to have seized Bardai airport (near the Libyan border), and killed 35 soldiers in the process. Rebels say they will take a nearby military base as well. The government denies that they have lost control of the airport. Bardai is the government's main military base in the north. The MDJT, which is mainly composed of Toubou tribesmen, has been supported by Libya and have been fighting since 1998.