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Title : China evacuates nationals amid rebel offensive in Chad
By :
Date : 03 February 2008 1406 hrs (SST)
URL : http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/326622/1/.html

SHANGHAI: China has moved to evacuate its nationals from Chad after a rebel offensive in the African nation's capital Ndjamena, state press reported Sunday.

China was in the process of airlifting 210 mainland Chinese and two Taiwan nationals to neighbouring Cameroon amid heavy fighting between government and rebel forces, Xinhua news reported.

Rebels seized most of Ndjamena on Saturday, as President Idriss Deby Itno remained holed up in the presidential palace.

About 80 Chinese remained in Ndjamena, Xinhua said.

China, which has a burgeoning economic presence in several African nations, resumed diplomatic relations with Chad in August 2006, nearly 10 years after they were severed.

Late last year, the two nations agreed to invest in an oil refinery near the Chadian capital. - AFP/ac



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