The Central African Republic has sent Chadian rebel Colonel Abdoulaye Miskine to Togo as part of a deal to reduce tensions with its neighbour.

His departure was in exchange for the removal to France of the CAR's ex-army chief, Francois Bozize, dismissed by President Ange-Felix Patasse last year and accused of plotting a coup.

Chad has accused Colonel Miskine of masterminding the killing of up to 150 Chadian nationals in Bangui last week, following the withdrawal of CAR rebels, who supported Mr Bozize.The CAR authorities have denied such massacres took place.

Central African countries organised the double exile after months of rows between CAR and Chad, sparked by the presence of the high-profile rebel leaders in neighbouring capitals.

Meanwhile, the CAR authorities have announced that the 400 Congolese rebels who fought on their side during the recent unrest, would be returning to the Democratic Republic of Congo by the end of this week.

Inquiry

Colonel Miskine, who was appointed as an officer with the CAR army, arrived in Lome on board a Libyan aircraft with a civilian Libyan crew.

Libyan troops have been protecting CAR President Ange-Felix Patasse since the attempted coup against him in May 2001.

General Bozize had defended Patasse against coups in the past

Chad has accused Colonel Miskine of attacking Chadian nationals in northern CAR over the last year.

Chad has now demanded an international inquiry into its claims that 150 of its citizens were killed in Bangui last Thursday.

"It has been established that there was a massacre," Chadian Communications Minister Moctar Wawa Dahab said on Monday.

"We are going to request an independent international inquiry that will determine exactly what happened and what should be done," he said.

The CAR authorities have denied that there were any killings, but have said that a commission of inquiry would be set up.

"If, at the height of the fighting, our forces didn't massacre anybody, why would they go and kill Chadians now that the attackers, who have been identified, have left town?" Prime Minister Martin Ziguele said.

'Blind eye'

The CAR forces were supported by fighters from the Congolese Liberation Movement (MLC) led by Jean-Pierre Bemba.

These troops will now leave Bangui within the next couple of days, the authorities there have said.

Bemba denied his troops were looting

They were accused by witnesses and by the International Federation of Human Rights last week of being involved in killing, raping and looting in northern Bangui, after the departure of CAR rebels.

The CAR authorities were accused of turning a blind eye as their allies paid themselves in kind for their help in repelling the rebels.

Calm has returned to Bangui and after 10 days of paralysis, banks, schools and markets have returned to their daily business.

International flights to Bangui airport resumed on Tuesday.

Troops from the Central African Economic Community (CEMAC) are expected to be deployed shortly in Bangui to take over from the Libyan troops and look after President Patasse's security.