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Chad court jails French aid staff Chad court jails French aid staff
(about 2 hours later)
A court in Chad has sentenced six French aid workers to eight years of hard labour for trying to take more than 100 children out of the country.A court in Chad has sentenced six French aid workers to eight years of hard labour for trying to take more than 100 children out of the country.
The six employees of French charity Zoe's Ark were arrested in October.The six employees of French charity Zoe's Ark were arrested in October.
The charity said at the time it was evacuating refugee children orphaned by the conflict in Darfur so they could be cared for by families in Europe.The charity said at the time it was evacuating refugee children orphaned by the conflict in Darfur so they could be cared for by families in Europe.
Most of the children were however found to be from Chad, which borders Darfur, and with parents who were still alive.Most of the children were however found to be from Chad, which borders Darfur, and with parents who were still alive.
The case sparked outrage in the oil-producing former French colony.The case sparked outrage in the oil-producing former French colony.
The evidence of the defence was not even taken into account. It's absolute rubbish Christophe Letien, Zoe's Ark
Protesters in Chad demanded the accused aid workers face justice, amid claims they may be treated leniently because they were Europeans.Protesters in Chad demanded the accused aid workers face justice, amid claims they may be treated leniently because they were Europeans.
The French government says it will now ask the Chadian government to return its aid workers to France.The French government says it will now ask the Chadian government to return its aid workers to France.
Zoe's Ark said it was shocked by the verdict.
Hunger strikeHunger strike
A Chadian and a Sudanese national who were also on trial were each sentenced to four years in prison, the AFP news agency reports.A Chadian and a Sudanese national who were also on trial were each sentenced to four years in prison, the AFP news agency reports.
Most children were not Darfur war orphans, as Zoe's Ark had claimedMost children were not Darfur war orphans, as Zoe's Ark had claimed
Two other Chadians accused in the child-trafficking case were acquitted.Two other Chadians accused in the child-trafficking case were acquitted.
The verdict was delivered on the fourth day of a trial that started on 21 December.The verdict was delivered on the fourth day of a trial that started on 21 December.
The court found the French nationals guilty of the "attempted kidnap of children, breaching their civil rights".The court found the French nationals guilty of the "attempted kidnap of children, breaching their civil rights".
It also found the group guilty of "absconding without payment" of bills accrued in their attempt to fly the children out of eastern Chad town of Abeche.It also found the group guilty of "absconding without payment" of bills accrued in their attempt to fly the children out of eastern Chad town of Abeche.
According to AFP, the head of Zoe's Ark, Eric Breteau, and the Sudanese national, Souleimane Ibrahim Adam, were found guilty of the further charge of using forged documents.According to AFP, the head of Zoe's Ark, Eric Breteau, and the Sudanese national, Souleimane Ibrahim Adam, were found guilty of the further charge of using forged documents.
A spokesman for Zoe's Ark, Christophe Letien, told the BBC he was "stunned, sickened and confused by this judgement".
He said the fact the defendants were handed the same sentence for different responsibilities proved "that it was a totally unfair trial".
"The evidence of the defence was not even taken into account. It's absolute rubbish," he said.
The French nationals briefly went on hunger strike in December to protest at their treatment.The French nationals briefly went on hunger strike in December to protest at their treatment.
Earlier this month, Chadian authorities said they had dropped the case against another 12 people initially held with the French aid workers.Earlier this month, Chadian authorities said they had dropped the case against another 12 people initially held with the French aid workers.
The 12 - including French journalists and Spanish flight crew - had already been allowed to leave Chad.The 12 - including French journalists and Spanish flight crew - had already been allowed to leave Chad.
The United Nations children's charity, Unicef, has described the French charity's mission to fly children out of Chad as illegal under international law.The United Nations children's charity, Unicef, has described the French charity's mission to fly children out of Chad as illegal under international law.
French officials also described Zoe's Ark's actions as "illegal and irresponsible".French officials also described Zoe's Ark's actions as "illegal and irresponsible".
The charity and its leader, Mr Breteau, say they genuinely believe they were rescuing orphans from Darfur and have blamed their local contacts for allegedly duping them.The charity and its leader, Mr Breteau, say they genuinely believe they were rescuing orphans from Darfur and have blamed their local contacts for allegedly duping them.
Some 200,000 people are estimated to have been killed in the conflict in Darfur between local rebel groups and militias backed by the government in Khartoum.Some 200,000 people are estimated to have been killed in the conflict in Darfur between local rebel groups and militias backed by the government in Khartoum.
The government's Janjaweed militia is also blamed for forcing some 2m people from their homes, many of whom now live in Chad as refugees.The government's Janjaweed militia is also blamed for forcing some 2m people from their homes, many of whom now live in Chad as refugees.