A Chadian court sentenced six French aid workers to eight years of forced labour after convicting them of trying to kidnap 103 African children.

One of six French aid workers charged in Chad with kidnapping children told a court today that local colleagues had misled them.

THE head of a French charity on trial with five colleagues in Chad yesterday denied kidnapping 103 children, saying he believed in good faith they were saving orphans from Darfur.

Six French charity workers accused of kidnapping children they claimed were Darfur orphans said they were protected by international law from any charges at their trial today.

SIX French humanitarian workers accused in Chad of trying to smuggle 103 African children to Europe will go on trial on December 21 after authorities speeded up the handling of their case, lawyers said last night.

DOZENS of children may already have been kidnapped from Chad and given to French families, investigators looking into a failed charity airlift said yesterday.

French charity workers charged with kidnapping 103 African children were stupid but sincere, a journalist held with them said today.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy departed early today for Chad to discuss the detention of 17 Europeans held in connection with an alleged attempt to kidnap 103 African children, the Elysee presidential palace said.

MOST of the 103 African “orphans” a French charity tried to fly to Europe from Chad appear to have at least one living parent, it emerged yesterday.

Most of the 103 African “orphans” a French charity tried to fly to Europe from Chad appear to have at least one living parent, it emerged today.

Nine French people charged with kidnapping over their involvement in trying to fly scores of children out of Chad could face trial in their own country.