Iran says invited Chad, Sudan leaders to Tehran

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Iran has invited the leaders of Chad and Sudan for talks as Chadian rebels battled the army in their most determined offensive in two years, Iran's foreign minister said on Saturday at an African summit in Ethiopia.

"Yesterday ... I was in contact with our Chadian and Sudanese friends and we are planning for a trilateral summit in Tehran," Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told reporters.

Rebels fighting to overthrow President Idriss Deby battled their way into the capital N'Djamena on Saturday and were heading for the presidential palace, a foreign resident in the city said.

Mottaki said he visited Khartoum and N'Djamena last year and expressed Iran's willingness to mediate. He said that trip had been followed by a "constructive" meeting of ministers from the three countries in the Iranian capital.

Both Chad and Sudan accuse each other of backing rebels on their respective territories. Both nations deny the charge. (Reporting by Barry Malone; Writing by Daniel Wallis; Editing by Ibon Villelabeitia)