Chad ‘orphans’ claim disputed
Charity that claimed it was helping Darfur’s orphans is accused of mass kidnapping.
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Adre and Tine are both in Chad.
But the nationalities of the children are still in question as thousands of people from Darfur have sought refuge in camps and villages in eastern Chad.
Meanwhile, Idriss Deby, the president of Chad, said on state television that the journalists and flight crew among the 17 people who were arrested should be freed after a judicial process.
Pending release
He said: “I hope that Chadian justice can very quickly shed light on this affair and that the journalists and the air hostesses, and those not involved, can be freed without delay.”
Three of the nine French who are detained are journalists, and seven Spaniards are known to be part of the flight crew.
It was not clear if Deby was referring to the pilots of the plane who were meant to transfer the children to Europe.
A Belgian pilot is also being held.
Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, called Deby on Thursday and according to David Martinon, the president’s spokesman, the conversation “took place in an extremely positive atmosphere”.
When asked about Deby’s latest remarks, Martinon said: “We welcome this statement as an encouraging sign.”
In a telephone conversation on Wednesday, Sarkozy urged Deby to free the French journalists.
Adoption controversy
The Republic of Congo has suspended all international adoptions following the events in Chad as “a preventive measure,” Emmanuel Aime Yoka, the justice minister said.
Yoka said the Chad incident occurred only a few days after 17 children from the Republic of Congo were adopted by Spanish families.
He said the two events were not connected, but said the coincidence of timing led the government to re-examine its policies.
The government is taking measures to verify the situation of the children in Spain, he said.