Sarkozy's Chad rescue dash

Last Modified: 05 Nov 2007
By: Carl Dinnen

The French president helps to secure the release of seven people held in Chad on suspicion of child abduction.

The accomopanying report contains flash photography.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy flew back last night with three French journalists and four Spanish flight attendants after helping to secure their release.

10 others remain in jail in Chad, charged with child abduction and fraud.

Zorro, Jack Bauer, Sarkoman - the most apt soubriquet for the French president following his personal rescue mission to Chad is now a matter of competition for journalists and opposition politicians.

Before flying on to Paris with three French journalists, he had delivered four Spanish flight attendants to a military airbase near Madrid.

Zorro, Jack Bauer, Sarkoman - the most apt soubriquet for the French president is now a matter of competition for journalists and politicians.

In Paris one of the rescued French journalists revealed that the Zoe's Ark staff had put fake bandages on the children to make them appear better candidates for humanitarian intervention.

The Chadian authorities are taking a dim view of events. Six members of the group appeared in court today charged with fraud and abduction.

Three Spanish air crew and a Belgian pilot are charged as accessories.

Earlier in his mercy dash, President Sarkozy had hinted at some kind of deal over the fate of the Zoe's Ark people.

And as for the 103 young children at the heart of this matter, they are being kept in an orphanage while Chadian authorities and the UN try to establish who they really are and to reunite them with their families.