Sudanese authorities arrest several Chadians

PARIS, France, Apr 18, 2005 (PANA) — Several Chadian nationals in Khartoum were
reportedly arrested by Sudan security forces at the weekend on
suspicion of links with the armed rebellion in Chad, sources said
here.

A reliable source told PANA Monday in Paris that the arrests took
place between Saturday and Sunday in the Khartoum areas of Souk
Elchaabi, Hadj Youssouf, Am Kado 19 and Souk Libiya.

The arrests came in the wake of the killing last Thursday of the
Chadian Consul in El Geneina, Darfur (western Sudan) near the
border with Chad by unidentified gunmen.

The diplomat was first taken to a hospital in El Geneina, then
transferred to Adre and later to N’djamena, where he died.

Relations between Sudan and Chad have been strained of late, with
N’djamena accusing Khartoum of harbouring more than 3,000 armed
Chadian rebels.

The Chadian government has since announced the suspension its
mediation in the Sudan talks to settle the crisis in Darfur
crisis, but later changed its mind.