Chad peace talks falter and gunfire resumesf

Peace talks broke off in Chad Wednesday as fighting between rival Muslim armies erupted again in the capital of N'Djamena after a short-lived ceasefire, French officials reported. Representatives of the opposing armies met in the cathedral in N'Djamena in an effort to keep a ceasefire agreed on Tuesday but French officials said the meeting broke up around midday with no indication of a new truce agreement.

Machine-gun fire and exploding artillery shells could be heard in the capital Wednesday following a relatively calm night, according to reports reaching French military sources in Douala, Cameroon.