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French on trial for Chad 'kidnap' | French on trial for Chad 'kidnap' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Six French nationals accused of trying to kidnap 103 children have gone on trial in the Chad capital, N'Djamena. | |
The staff from the Zoe's Ark charity held hands as they arrived at court, amid tight security. | |
Zoe's Ark says the children were orphans from Darfur who were being taken to be fostered in France. | Zoe's Ark says the children were orphans from Darfur who were being taken to be fostered in France. |
The six, who have gone on hunger strike, could face 20-year hard labour terms if found guilty but the French government has appealed for leniency. | The six, who have gone on hunger strike, could face 20-year hard labour terms if found guilty but the French government has appealed for leniency. |
The court will try to establish whether the children were the beneficiaries of a humanitarian project that went wrong, or the victims of child-trafficking. | The court will try to establish whether the children were the beneficiaries of a humanitarian project that went wrong, or the victims of child-trafficking. |
'Fight to the end' | 'Fight to the end' |
The AFP news agency reports that the court was surrounded by anti-riot police and about 100 para-military gendarmes. | |
The courtroom was packed, included many journalists from the French media, AFP reports. | |
Zoe's Ark profile The case has sparked protests in oil-producing Chad amid claims the accused might benefit from special treatment because they are Europeans. | |
"Our clients will tell the truth, that they came here to do good," said Mario Stasi, lawyer for the charity's nurse, Nadia Merimi. | |
The six were stopped by officials as they went to catch a flight from Chad to France in late October with the children. | The six were stopped by officials as they went to catch a flight from Chad to France in late October with the children. |
Most of the children have been found to have at least one living parent or guardian. | Most of the children have been found to have at least one living parent or guardian. |
The judge will want to know why, when none of the children was injured, they were bandaged and caked in fake blood ahead of their flight. | The judge will want to know why, when none of the children was injured, they were bandaged and caked in fake blood ahead of their flight. |
One of the accused, Emilie Lelouche, told France Info radio on Thursday: "We're going to fight to the end." | One of the accused, Emilie Lelouche, told France Info radio on Thursday: "We're going to fight to the end." |
The aid workers have been on a hunger strike since earlier this month, refusing food but drinking water, and have accused the French government of deserting them. | The aid workers have been on a hunger strike since earlier this month, refusing food but drinking water, and have accused the French government of deserting them. |
Special treatment? | Special treatment? |
On Thursday, French Junior Foreign Minister Rama Yade said the government had appealed to Chad to treat the accused with a "certain clemency". | On Thursday, French Junior Foreign Minister Rama Yade said the government had appealed to Chad to treat the accused with a "certain clemency". |
French Justice Minister Rachida Dati said this week that if convicted the six might be able to serve their sentences in France because of a bilateral judicial agreement. | French Justice Minister Rachida Dati said this week that if convicted the six might be able to serve their sentences in France because of a bilateral judicial agreement. |
Analysts have speculated a diplomatic deal could be struck after French President Nicolas Sarkozy met Chadian President Idriss Deby last week in Lisbon during a European and African leaders' summit. | Analysts have speculated a diplomatic deal could be struck after French President Nicolas Sarkozy met Chadian President Idriss Deby last week in Lisbon during a European and African leaders' summit. |
But an unnamed Chad government official told Reuters news agency: "Have you ever seen an African sent back home after committing a crime as serious as the one [allegedly] committed by the members of Zoe's Ark?" | |
Three Chadians and one Sudanese refugee are also on trial for conspiracy. | Three Chadians and one Sudanese refugee are also on trial for conspiracy. |
In all, 17 Europeans were arrested in the eastern Chadian town of Abeche on 25 October but 11 others - three French journalists, seven Spanish flight crew and a Belgian pilot - have since been repatriated. | In all, 17 Europeans were arrested in the eastern Chadian town of Abeche on 25 October but 11 others - three French journalists, seven Spanish flight crew and a Belgian pilot - have since been repatriated. |