France to send Chad antiaircraft weapons

France refused to provide Chad with air support, but agreed to send antiaircraft guns to Chad government forces fighting Libyan-backed rebels. Diplomatic sources said the move increased French involvement in the Chad civil war despite the government's reluctance to be sucked into the conflict in its former Central African colony.

The Chad government said its forces in the northern town of Faya-Largeau were bombed again Monday for the third day by Libyan aircraft.

In Washington, Pentagon officials refused to confirm or deny reports that the carrier USS Eisenhower had been placed on alert status in the Mediterranean in response to Libyan air raids into Chad territory.