HC Deb 25 May 2004 vol 421 cc1570-1W
Angus Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the Movement for Democracy and Justice in Chad's claim of having captured the Slafist Group for Preaching and Combat's second-in-command, Amari Saifi; and if he will make a statement. [175085]

Mr. Mullin

We are unable to confirm the capture of Amari Saifi.

Angus Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with(a) his counterpart in Chad, (b) other representatives of the Government of Chad and (c) United Kingdom representatives in Chad concerning the army mutiny of the night of 16th to 17th May; and if he will make a statement. [175110]

Mr. Mullin

The Government has had no discussions with the Government of Chad about the incidents in N'Djamena on 16, 17 and 18 May. The UK is not represented in Chad; it is covered as necessary by our High Commission in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Angus Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the(a) national and (b) regional security impact of the army mutiny which took place in Chad on the night of 16 to 17May; and if he will make a statement. [175111]

Mr. Mullin

The facts and causes of the incident in N'Djamena on 16, 17 and 18 May remain unclear, and any assessment of the national and regional security impact would be speculative.

Angus Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment of the security impact of the army mutiny which took place in Chad on the night of 16 to 17 May he has received from the United Kingdom representatives in(a) Niger, (b) Nigeria, (c) Cameroon, (d) Central African Republic and (e) Sudan; and if he will make a statement. [175112]

Mr. Mullin

UK representatives in Cameroon, where the UK's Ambassador to Chad resides, are monitoring the situation. The reasons for the incident in N'Djamena on 16, 17 and 18 May remain unclear. We have had no information from UK representatives in Nigeria and Sudan. The UK is not represented in Niger or the Central African Republic.