Europeans questioned in 'child kidnap' hearings in Chad

NDJAMENA (AFP) — A Chadian judge was to question several Europeans Tuesday who face kidnap and other charges for trying to fly 103 children, supposedly orphans from Sudan's war-torn Darfur region, to France.

Originally, 17 Europeans and four Chadians were arrested after the Zoe's Ark charity tried to fly the children out of Chad on October 25.

But three French journalists and four Spanish air hostesses were released by the Chadian authorities and taken home by French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Sunday after he carried out a surprise visit to assuage anger in Chad.

Ten Europeans and four Chadians remain in custody.

Five of the six detained workers from Zoe's Ark, all French nationals, were taken to the main court in the Chadian capital Ndjamena on Monday.

One of them, Emilie Lelouch, was questioned and the others were to be heard on Tuesday, a judicial source ...