The Chadian government has denied claims by Sudan that a group of Western hostages is being held in the country.
Chad's ambassador to the US accused neighbouring Khartoum of attempting to "tarnish its reputation" as an ally of the US in the "war on terror".
The fate of the tourists, kidnapped in Egypt 10 days ago, remains unclear after a shoot-out in northern Sudan between kidnappers and Sudanese troops.
Six kidnappers were killed and two were in custody, officials said.
Sudan's military spokesman said the Sudanese forces were near the Libyan Abducted Western tourists freed ...
Sudan to restore diplomatic ties with Chad ... border when they encountered a white vehicle, which belonged to an Egyptian tourism company.
A gun battle erupted after the vehicle's driver refused to pull over.
The vehicle was said to have been full of weapons and documents from the Sudan Liberation Movement about how to distribute the ransom when received.
The two captured suspects said that the tourists were now being held by other gunmen in the Tabbat Shajara region of Chad, according to the military.
Darfur rebel groups
However, Chad's ambassador in Washington, Mahmud Adam Bashir, denied the claim.
He told Arabic TV channel al-Arabiya: "This is a desperate attempt to tarnish (Chad's) reputation. Chad has been an ally in the war against terror since the international terrorist acts began.
"It strongly denounces any operation or attempt to kidnap hostages, whether tourists or others in any part of the world."
Since being taken hostage on 19 September, the tourists and their guides have been moved around a lawless desert region touching on the borders of Egypt, Sudan, Libya and Chad.
The group includes five Germans, five Italians and a Romanian.
There are several different factions of rebels in Sudan's Darfur region of the Sudan Liberation Movement. So far none have claimed links to the kidnappings.
The kidnappers have demanded that Germany take charge of payment of an $8.8m ransom. German officials have declined to comment.
(BBC)
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