By Moumine Ngarmbassa

N'DJAMEMA, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Chad President Idriss Deby has warned his people they risk civil war unless they unite behind him to combat eastern rebels he said were being recruited and paid by Sudan.

The warning from the Chadian leader followed fierce desert battles in late November and early December between government forces, often led by Deby himself, and insurgents in the arid east bordering Sudan's war-torn Darfur region.

"If Chadians don't pay attention, we will fall back into civil war," Deby said in a speech on Wednesday to religious leaders to mark the Muslim feast of Eid. His words were broadcast by state media on Thursday.

Deby, a French-trained former fighter pilot who himself seized power in a 1990 eastern revolt, expressed his concerns as plans for the European Union to deploy a military peacekeeping force in east Chad in January showed signs of further delay.

In a newspaper interview published on Thursday, French Defence Minister Herve Morin complained of other European countries' reluctance to provide troops for the EU force, over half of which will be French. The force has a United Nations mandate to protect civilians and aid workers in eastern Chad.

Deby, who has been able to count on logistical and intelligence support from French troops and aircraft stationed in Chad, urged his people to rally behind him. Fighting in the east restarted last month after at least two major rebel groups abandoned a Libyan-brokered peace deal signed in October.

"The entire country should stand behind its government," Deby said, repeating Chadian allegations that his rebel opponents were financed and supported by neighbour Sudan.

"Chad's sons are used as mercenaries by a neighbour that is jealous of seeing Chad prosper in peace," he said.

"Sudan's money is circulating. Recruitment by Sudan (of Chadians) is taking place in the sight and knowledge of the whole world, even inside our territory," he added.

Sudan routinely rejects charges by Chad that it supports anti-Deby rebels, who accuse the Chadian president of ruling like a corrupt despot in favour of his own Zaghawa clan.

Deby himself led government forces in their recent offensive against rebel strongholds in the east.

"In what other country of the world have you seen the head of state jump into a Toyota pick-up to go off to war?" he asked.

The Chadian leader, who won one-sided elections last year that were boycotted by main opposition parties, said he would from now on take a tougher line against opponents.

"Too much freedom kills freedom. With too much freedom, we fall into disorder. Too much democracy destroys society," he said. (Writing by Pascal Fletcher, editing by Mary Gabriel)

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