French minister says Chad chief of staff likely dead

Paris: French Defence Minister Herve Morin said on Sunday that he believed that Chad's chief of staff had died in fighting between rebel and government troops.

Asked by Europe 1 radio station about whether or not the official had died, Morin replied: "According to our information, in principle, yes." Morin did not name the Chad official.

Morin also told the station France had evacuated around 400 foreigners from Chad, as fighting raged in the African state between government and rebel troops.

He said, "We have evacuated around 400 people, all of whom wished to leave of their own accord."

On Saturday, France sent over four planes to N'Djamena to fly out foreigners from the Chad capital. The passengers are due to arrive in Paris later on Sunday.