Chadian president pardons French charity workers

AFP, March, 2008

NDJAMENA (AFP) — Chad's President Idriss Deby Itno pardoned Monday six French charity workers sentenced three months ago to hard labour for trying to fly children from the Darfur border to France.

"A presidential pardon has been granted to the six French members of Zoe's Ark," read the first of two decrees signed by Deby and released in the Chadian capital Ndjamena.

Chadian Justice Minister Albert Pahimi Padacke told AFP the French ambassador in Ndjamena would be notified of the text of the decree and "France will then be able to free them."

The French charity Ark had sought to fly 103 children to France for adoption after claiming they were orphans or refugees from Sudan's war-wracked Darfur region.

The Zoe's Ark members were detained on October 25...