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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Eight US missionaries leave Haiti | Eight US missionaries leave Haiti |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Eight of the 10 American missionaries accused of abducting children in Haiti after last month's quake have been released and are now back in the US. | |
| They were flown to Miami in a US military plane after being freed by a Haitian judge, but may have to return later for further questioning. | |
| Their two leaders remain in detention. The Americans were arrested after trying to leave Haiti with 33 children. | Their two leaders remain in detention. The Americans were arrested after trying to leave Haiti with 33 children. |
| They said the children were orphans but some were found to have living parents. | They said the children were orphans but some were found to have living parents. |
| Earlier on Wednesday, Haitian President Rene Preval greeted French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who had arrived to assess the aid efforts. | |
| Leaders held | Leaders held |
| The missionaries, from the New Life Children's Refuge, face charges of child abduction and criminal conspiracy. | The missionaries, from the New Life Children's Refuge, face charges of child abduction and criminal conspiracy. |
| The case has drawn criticism that it is distracting from the aid effort | |
| The group's leader, Laura Silsby, and one other member, Charisa Coulter, are being held for more investigation. | The group's leader, Laura Silsby, and one other member, Charisa Coulter, are being held for more investigation. |
| Ms Silsby has admitted that the missionaries did not have the proper paperwork for the children, who were later taken into care by the Haitian authorities. | Ms Silsby has admitted that the missionaries did not have the proper paperwork for the children, who were later taken into care by the Haitian authorities. |
| "The judge wants to question two of my clients because they were in Haiti before the earthquake," the group's lawyer, Aviol Fleurant, told AFP news agency. | |
| The five men and five women, mostly from Idaho, were arrested 17 days after the quake that killed up to 230,000 people. | The five men and five women, mostly from Idaho, were arrested 17 days after the quake that killed up to 230,000 people. |
| They denied allegations they had tried to smuggle the children across the border to the Dominican Republic, saying they were taking the children to an orphanage. | |
| Sarkozy visit | Sarkozy visit |
| The case has drawn huge media attention and criticism from some - including the Haitian prime minister - that it is distracting from earthquake recovery. | The case has drawn huge media attention and criticism from some - including the Haitian prime minister - that it is distracting from earthquake recovery. |
| Also on Wednesday, Mr Sarkozy pledged 270m euros (£235m) in reconstruction aid as he became the first French head of state to visit the former colony. | |
| Mr Sarkozy said: "France will live up to the responsibilities of its shared history and friendship with Haiti." | Mr Sarkozy said: "France will live up to the responsibilities of its shared history and friendship with Haiti." |
| More than a month after the 12 January earthquake, hundreds of thousands of homeless quake victims are still sheltering in makeshift camps scattered across the ruined capital. | More than a month after the 12 January earthquake, hundreds of thousands of homeless quake victims are still sheltering in makeshift camps scattered across the ruined capital. |