Chad security high as French go on trial

By John James
BBC News, Chad

There was a heavy police presence around the Palace of Justice in the Chad capital, N'Djamena, as the six French aid workers went on trial, accused of trying to abduct 103 children and take them to Europe.

Eric Breteau (c) says both governments knew about their work

Riot shields, batons and machine guns were in plentiful supply, though the crowds outside were passive, straining to hear the case as it was relayed on several loudspeakers.

The case has sparked violent protests in the eastern town of Abeche where the aid workers were arrested.

One local resident expressed outrage at the alleged crime.

"This tribunal has to condemn them. It has to condemn because they were caught trying to steal the children to sell them. It's not good - not in Europe, not in Africa."

Another resident alluded to the widespread feeling that if the French aid workers are convicted, a diplomatic deal will be struck which will take them back to France.

"People here don't just want the trial here but also that they do any punishment here in Chad. Or else we get what we saw with the Bulgarian and other nurses in Libya.

"They were repatriated and then all let free. They need to serve their sentences here, that's what we want."

Dusty Christmas

In court, the prosecution described the airlift as a "clandestine operation" masterminded by the six French aid workers.

This was strongly denied by the leader of the six, Eric Breteau, who looked calm and composed as he took to the stand in the packed courtroom.

The court was surrounded by anti-riot police armed with machine-guns

Gaunt but reading unfalteringly from a script, Mr Breteau said the operation had been done with the knowledge and help of local United Nations agencies on the ground - and even with the support at the highest levels of the French and Chadian government.

That is a charge both governments deny.

The volunteer French fireman and founder of the French charity, Zoe's Ark, has been at the centre of allegations of child trafficking.

He and his team were arrested on 25 October while trying to take 103 children out of the country to join families in France.

Zoe's Ark says it was airlifting orphans from the war-torn Sudanese region of Darfur.

Yet the United Nations says almost all the children came from the Chadian side of the border and have at least one parent or a guardian.

The trial is expected to last less than a week.

For several of the French journalists relaying the information to a gripped audience back home, it will be Christmas dinner in a hot and dusty Chad.