Accused Of Kidnappings In Chad

Chad authorities released three Spanish flight crew members and a Belgian pilot detained in a suspected plot by a charity hoping to fly African children to Europe, according to the International Herald Tribune.

Also released Sunday November 4, were three French journalists and the flight crew members.  The Spaniards were contracted by French organization Zoë's Ark to fly the African youngsters to France. The pilot, a Belgian, was also hired by the French charity had flown a plane carrying some of the children around Chad. The group was expected to be back in Europe on Friday, November 9.

A Chadian lawyer representing the four said they were charged with complicity in an alleged kidnapping plot but were released at the direction of a judge.

Six Zoë's Ark workers remain in custody in Chad, and are charged with attempting to kidnap 103 children. If convicted they could spend 20-years in prison.

Spain hailed the release of its citizens who were helped by French President Nicolas Sarkozy in the release.

"I want to take the opportunity to express from here our sincerest gratitude to the government of Chad and the judicial authorities for this decision," Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega said.

A total of 17 Europeans were arrested after the flight was stopped on Oct. 25 from flying the children to Europe. The children, from Sudan's Darfur region, were intended to be placed with host families. Zoe's Ark said that its mission was humanitarian in nature and that the children were thought to be orphans.

France's Foreign Ministry and others have cast doubt on the claim that the children were orphans as Sudan's western Darfur region has been embroiled in fighting since 2003, and this has forced thousands to flee to Chad. The children reported living with at least one adult they considered a parent, according to aid workers.

The arrests have also triggered an investigation into the activities of the aid group in Paris, who searched media agency Capa.

Capa reporter Marc Garmirian filmed the group for weeks leading up to their arrest. Authorities are looking into charges of illegal adoption and fraud against the aid group.

The arrests come at a sensitive time in Chad's relations with Europe. The European Union is planning to deploy a peacekeeping force in Chad and Central African Republic with French soldiers. The 3,000 soldier force is intended to help refugees along the two nations' borders with Darfur.

FMI: http://www.archedezoe.fr/ http://www.capatv.com/capa_en/pressetv_id.htm