GOZ-BEIDA (BBC) -- Anti-government rebels in Chad have launched an attack on the town of Goz Beida, near the border with Sudan.

The United Nations reported fighting in the town, which is home to 15,000 Darfur refugees.
A rebel leader said Goz Beida had fallen to his forces and they would take the capital N'Djamena by Sunday.
Chadian Communication Minister Mahamat Hissene told the BBC that government forces were being organized to defend the capital.
The rebels reportedly launched an offensive in the east of the country on Wednesday, and Mr. Hissene said the rebels were being armed and organized by Sudan.
They claim to have twice as many vehicles and men as when they attacked N'Djamena in February.
The insurgents had sought to overthrow President Idriss Deby and they managed to reach his palace before being repelled.
Proxy war
The latest fighting in Goz Beida, which is 75km (46 miles) from the Sudanese border, is reported to be fierce.
Rebel columns of between 80 and 100 trucks were seen racing towards Goz Beida, according to news agency Reuters.
Goz Beida is surrounded by UN-run camps housing thousands of refugees who have fled the conflict-ridden Darfur region of Sudan.
Irish members of an EU protection force in eastern Chad are said to have taken up defensive positions between the fighting and one of the refugee camps.
The UN has said Sudan and Chad are fighting a proxy war through each other's rebel groups.
Chad closed its border with Sudan last month and suspended economic ties.
That came after Sudan cut diplomatic relations with Chad following an attack by Darfur rebels near the Sudanese capital, Khartoum.
Sudan accuses Chad of backing rebels in Darfur -- charges denied by Chad.
The two countries have signed numerous peace deals but these have never held.