Chad case prompts Sarkozy visit

Chad case prompts Sarkozy visit

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has arrived in Chad on a visit to discuss the detention of 17 Europeans accused of child abduction.
The French, Spanish and Belgian nationals are held in connection with an alleged attempt to kidnap 103 African children.

Six of the arrested are members of the French charity Zoe's Ark which says the children are orphans from Darfur.

But international aid agencies have cast doubt over the claim.

Mr Sarkozy will meet his counterpart, Idriss Deby, in the capital, N'Djamena. They will discuss "the situation of our compatriots and the other European citizens being prosecuted", a statement from the Elysee Palace said.

Mr Deby said on Thursday TV he hoped the three French journalists and Spanish and Belgian air crew members who are among the 17 European accused would be released soon.

Meanwhile, French Prime Minister Francois Fillon has asked Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and Defence Minister Herve Morin to launch an investigation into the affair.

Mr Sarkozy was involved earlier this year in negotiations with the Libyan President, Muammar Gaddafi, in the case of six Bulgarian medics sentenced to death in Libya, who were eventually deported to Bulgaria and then released.