Chadian troops are ready to move back across the border into Sudan if rebels there regroup after their first failed offensive, interim defence minister Adoum Younousmi said on television Monday.
"If there is a regrouping, this new situation will lead us to cross over to the other side of the border," said the minister.
They had information that the remaining "mercenaries" had received orders to regroup to the east of El Jeneina 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the border and so they had sent Chadian troops to that area, said Younousmi.
Chad said Sunday it had carried out a major military incursion deep into Sudanese territory and destroyed several rebel camps before pulling back into its own territory again.
It was the first official confirmation that Chad had sent ground troops into neighbouring Sudan to pursue rebels routed earlier this month as they launched a huge offensive on the Chadian capital Ndjamena.
Khartoum, accused by Chad President Idriss Deby Itno of backing the Sudan-based rebels, had already accused the Chadians of launching air strikes, as the United Nations led international appeals for calm.
The main alliance of Chadian rebels aligned against Deby Itno, the Rally for the Forces of Change (UFR), told AFP Monday it would pursue its offensive into Chad, despite the recent setbacks.
Earlier Monday, UN chief Ban Ki-moon appealed for an end to fighting in the Chad-Sudan border area, his press office said
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