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| Sarkozy to press Chad on missing | Sarkozy to press Chad on missing |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| French President Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to press for an investigation into the disappearance of two opposition figures when he visits Chad. | French President Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to press for an investigation into the disappearance of two opposition figures when he visits Chad. |
| The two were seized by armed men on 3 February, amid a failing attempt by rebels to seize the capital, N'Djamena. | The two were seized by armed men on 3 February, amid a failing attempt by rebels to seize the capital, N'Djamena. |
| Rights groups accuse the government of using the coup as a pretext to arrest the men, and have urged Paris to demand evidence that the men are alive. | Rights groups accuse the government of using the coup as a pretext to arrest the men, and have urged Paris to demand evidence that the men are alive. |
| Chadian authorities have admitted holding a third opposition figure. | Chadian authorities have admitted holding a third opposition figure. |
| Lol Mahamat Choua, who also went missing on 3 February, has been released from a military prison but is under house arrest, the government said on Tuesday. | Lol Mahamat Choua, who also went missing on 3 February, has been released from a military prison but is under house arrest, the government said on Tuesday. |
| The government accuses him of conspiring with the rebels who attempted the coup. | The government accuses him of conspiring with the rebels who attempted the coup. |
| But it denies knowledge of the whereabouts of the two others, Ngarlejy Yorongar and Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh. | But it denies knowledge of the whereabouts of the two others, Ngarlejy Yorongar and Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh. |
| 'Credible' inquiry | 'Credible' inquiry |
| Mr Sarkozy is stopping briefly in Chad on Wednesday as he travels to South Africa for an official visit. | Mr Sarkozy is stopping briefly in Chad on Wednesday as he travels to South Africa for an official visit. |
| Given there is little doubt [the two missing] were taken by the authorities, the authorities should produce them Reed BrodyHuman Rights Watch | Given there is little doubt [the two missing] were taken by the authorities, the authorities should produce them Reed BrodyHuman Rights Watch |
| He will urge Chad President Idriss Deby to allow a "credible" international investigation to look into the disappearances, his spokesman said. | He will urge Chad President Idriss Deby to allow a "credible" international investigation to look into the disappearances, his spokesman said. |
| That would require "a credible investigative commission", David Martinon told reporters on Tuesday. | That would require "a credible investigative commission", David Martinon told reporters on Tuesday. |
| "The friendship between our two countries can grow only under the condition that the democratic process restarts and accelerates," he said. | "The friendship between our two countries can grow only under the condition that the democratic process restarts and accelerates," he said. |
| On Tuesday, Chad's Foreign Minister Ahmat Allam-Mi was in New York, meeting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to discuss issues including restarting a process of political dialogue with rebels not involved in the coup attempt, and the disappearance of the opposition figures. | On Tuesday, Chad's Foreign Minister Ahmat Allam-Mi was in New York, meeting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to discuss issues including restarting a process of political dialogue with rebels not involved in the coup attempt, and the disappearance of the opposition figures. |
| He said he had received information from Mr Yorongar's sister and chauffeur that he had gone into hiding of his own accord. | He said he had received information from Mr Yorongar's sister and chauffeur that he had gone into hiding of his own accord. |
| But AFP news agency quoted the chauffeur, Saleh Dkekotar, as saying: "We've had no news, he's not hiding. If he were alive he would come directly to the house." | But AFP news agency quoted the chauffeur, Saleh Dkekotar, as saying: "We've had no news, he's not hiding. If he were alive he would come directly to the house." |
| Demand | Demand |
| In a detailed report, Human Rights Watch quotes witnesses as saying Mr Yorongar and Mr Saleh were taken by government soldiers on 3 February. | In a detailed report, Human Rights Watch quotes witnesses as saying Mr Yorongar and Mr Saleh were taken by government soldiers on 3 February. |
| A spokesman for the campaign group, Reed Brody, told news agency Reuters that Mr Sarkozy should not visit Chad without first receiving proofs that the two men were alive. | A spokesman for the campaign group, Reed Brody, told news agency Reuters that Mr Sarkozy should not visit Chad without first receiving proofs that the two men were alive. |
| The coup attempt left hundreds dead | The coup attempt left hundreds dead |
| "Given there is little doubt they were taken by the authorities, the authorities should produce them," Mr Brody said. | "Given there is little doubt they were taken by the authorities, the authorities should produce them," Mr Brody said. |
| France - Chad's former colonial ruler - maintains a force of some 1,500 troops in the country. | |
| It provided Chad's army with logistical support in fighting off the rebels during the two-day coup attempt, which left the Chadian capital severely damaged, with bodies littering the streets. | It provided Chad's army with logistical support in fighting off the rebels during the two-day coup attempt, which left the Chadian capital severely damaged, with bodies littering the streets. |
| Amnesty International says Paris learned that the three opposition figures had been detained eight days after the coup attempt, but did not disclose the information. | Amnesty International says Paris learned that the three opposition figures had been detained eight days after the coup attempt, but did not disclose the information. |
| The rights group has urged France to reveal all it knows, and not to "cover up the excesses of the Chadian government". | The rights group has urged France to reveal all it knows, and not to "cover up the excesses of the Chadian government". |