A judicial inquiry has opened into the disappearances of three key opposition figures detained in the Chadian capital N'Djamena on 4 February, the Interior Minister Ahmat Mahamat announced. The whereabouts of the three politicians - Lol Mahamat Choua, Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh and Ngarlejy Yorongar - were not known

Chad's president has declared a nationwide state of emergency, telling his citizens that tightened controls were needed to restore order after recent attacks by an opposition alliance. Idriss Deby made the announcement in a speech broadcast on national radio and television on Thursday.

Gunmen in eastern Chad have prevented the United Nations from moving newly-arrived refugees from Sudan's Darfur region away from a volatile border area and into camps, the world body said on Friday. U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said armed men stopped a group of families from boarding its trucks in the Birak border area this week and other refugees due to be collected had moved away for fear of attacks by Sudanese militias.

Chadians who had fled to Cameroon to escape fighting between rebel and government forces started trickling back home Wednesday morning after an uneasy calm returned to the Chad capital N'Djamena. Some were returning just for the day and planning to return to Cameroon overnight. But, other residents of the capital were still making their way across the border bridge to the security of the neighbouring country.