Chad President Hopes For Fresh Dialog

Chad expects its dispute with oil companies Chevron of the United States and Petronas to be resolved through negotiation, President Idriss Deby said on Monday.

Deby's comments appeared to backtrack on his previous order to Chevron and Petronas to halt operations and leave the central African country for refusing to pay taxes the government says they owe.

On Monday he said that a commission had been set up which "has already been in touch with our oil company partners," adding: "I very much hope that there will be fresh dialogue."

"Simply, Petronas and Chevron ... owe the Chad Treasury, which these two companies have not paid up to today," he said.