Sarkozy brings home seven from Chad

The four flight attendants released by Chad speak with Spanish PM Jose Zapatero. Photo / Reuters

French President Nicolas Sarkozy flew home seven Europeans released by Chad, but 10 others remained in jail charged with child abduction and fraud.

Sarkozy and three freed French journalists arrived at a military airport near Paris, after Sarkozy's plane had dropped off four released Spanish flight attendants in Madrid.

"We're very relieved," journalist Marc Garmirian told reporters at the French airport.

The freed Europeans were among 16 French and Spanish nationals arrested 10 days ago as they tried to fly 103 African children to Europe.

Six members of French group Zoe's Ark are charged with fraud and abduction. Three members of a Spanish air crew are charged as accessories, as is a Belgian pilot who was arrested later.

Sarkozy, who had flown to Chad's capital N'Djamena to intervene on behalf of the Europeans, said at a joint news conference with Chad's President Idriss Deby that France had confidence in the Chadian state and the Chadian justice system.

But he also said he would rather see French people tried in French courts and there would be discussions between the two judiciaries to find an outcome satisfactory to both.

- Reuters

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