afrol News, 14 February - A judicial inquiry has opened into the disappearances of three key opposition figures detained in the Chadian capital N'Djamena on 4 February, the Interior Minister Ahmat Mahamat announced.

The whereabouts of the three politicians - Lol Mahamat Choua, Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh and Ngarlejy Yorongar - were not known

since their arrest and detention. They disappeared when the government was busy trying to quashed yet another rebel attack in N'Djamena, and it was not clear whether they were linked to the rebel incursion.

Chadian authorities have been compelled to investigate the issue after a bitter confrontation from the French government that pressed for "an immediate clarification" on the whereabouts of the opposition leaders.

French Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner, has called for the immediate release of the politicians.

Rights groups, including Amnesty International, had expressed concern over the disappearances of the political figures and condemned Chadian authorities for using the rebel incursion to get to its perceived enemies.

The Spokesman of the opposition Rally for Democracy and Progress of Choua said their leader arrested and mistreated by Presidential guards before disappearing with him to God-knows-where.

But the Interior Minister blamed the rebels for the disappearance. The rebels denied the accusations because it does not make sense for them to kidnap anyone who opposes the government of Idriss Deby.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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