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N'DJAMEMA, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Chadian rebels said on Wednesday they would defend themselves if attacked by French troops or other foreign forces in Chad, and vowed to press ahead with their fight to topple President Idriss Deby.

They said they were still occupying positions "around N'Djamena", but declined to specify how far they were from the capital.

"We are determined to achieve our objectives, whatever foreign force intervenes in Chad, from France or elsewhere ... If we are attacked, then we have the right to legitimately defend ourselves," rebel spokesman Ali Ordjo Hemchi said.

He said he was speaking by telephone from a location outside N'Djamena.

Hemchi said the anti-Deby alliance of rebel groups, calling itself the Forces of National Resistance, were not frightened by warnings from France that it might intervene more directly in Chad in support of Deby.

"We ask France to remain neutral, on the side of the Chadian people, and not on the side of a failed regime," he said.

He insisted that acceptance of any ceasefire by the rebels would depend on Deby stepping down.

"That's the position of all of us," he said. (Reporting by Pascal Fletcher; editing by Andrew Dobbie)

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