U.S. embassy reduces staff in Chad amid rebel advance

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has temporarily moved nonemergency staff from its embassy in Chad to Cameroon, the U.S. State Department said on Monday as rebels trying to overthrow Chad's president claimed new advances.

"The embassy right now is functioning with a minimum staff and they're providing services to American citizens in Chad as needed," U.S. State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos told reporters.

"Nonemergency staff have been repositioned in Cameroon temporarily," he said. The State Department, citing security grounds, declined to say how many diplomats were moved.

Gallegos reiterated a travel warning advising all U.S. citizens to avoid traveling to Chad and telling any Americans in the northern African country to avoid traveling after dark and exercise caution.

The rebel National Alliance has been moving westward from the border with Sudan. On Monday, it said it had captured Biltine, the third town it has seized in three days.

The capital, N'Djamena, was calm on Monday, although residents said they were worried about the reported rebel advance. Government offices, markets and banks were open.

(Reporting by Paul Eckert, Editing by Sandra Maler)