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Hijacked Sudan jet lands in Chad Chad arrests Sudan plane hijacker
(about 1 hour later)
A hijacked Sudanese passenger jet has landed in N'Djamena, capital of neighbouring Chad. A lone gunman has been arrested after hijacking a Sudanese passenger jet and diverting it to N'Djamena, the capital of neighbouring Chad.
Officials said the Air West Boeing 737 with 103 people on board had been heading from the capital Khartoum to El Fasher, in the Darfur region. The Air West Boeing 737 was flying 103 people from Sudan's capital, Khartoum, to El Fasher in the Darfur region.
The lone hijacker, who was reportedly seeking political asylum in France, was arrested at the airport. The hijacker was carrying a machine gun, and a Chadian government minister said he was seeking asylum in the UK.
Sudan accuses Chad of backing rebel forces in the Darfur region, while Chad says Sudan aids Chadian rebel groups.Sudan accuses Chad of backing rebel forces in the Darfur region, while Chad says Sudan aids Chadian rebel groups.
Relations between the two counties have been poor for some time, and diplomatic relations were temporarily halted in 2006.Relations between the two counties have been poor for some time, and diplomatic relations were temporarily halted in 2006.
Chad's infrastructure minister said the hijacker wanted political asylum in the UK to escape persecution in Sudan.
He has been arrested and will answer for his actions. Chad is not a sanctuary for terrorists Adoum YounomosmiChadian infrastructure minister When he eventually landed in Chad, he asked for guarantees of his safety from the French embassy.
"Chad did not act on his demand," Adoum Younomosmi said.
"He has been arrested and will answer for his actions. Chad is not a sanctuary for terrorists."
SurroundedSurrounded
Air West officials told news agencies that the hijacked plane landed safely in the Chadian capital. The plane took off in Khartoum at about 0900 (0600 GMT) and landed at about 1130 (0830 GMT).
It took off at about 0900 (0600 GMT) and was said to have landed at about 1130 (0830 GMT). Chadian security forces surrounded the plane at the airport as passengers were led to safety.
Chadian security forces surrounded the plane at the airport as passengers were led to safety, the AFP news agency said. The hijacker then followed some 20 minutes later, after negotiations.
Air West, based in Khartoum, is a privately owned company, and operates domestic passenger services and international cargo charters.Air West, based in Khartoum, is a privately owned company, and operates domestic passenger services and international cargo charters.
The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Khartoum says no-one has yet explained how the hijacker managed to get a machine gun onto the aircraft at Khartoum, but security systems at the airport are old and dilapidated.
Khartoum has a long history of hijacking incidents, having both received and been the source of hijacked planes.