Bomb hits embassy in Chad

2008-02-02 22:26

Riyadh - The wife and daughter of a Saudi employee at Riyadh's embassy in Chad were killed on Saturday when what was apparently a stray bomb hit the ambassador's residence, the Saudi foreign ministry announced.

"During the fighting in Ndjamena, the residence of the Saudi ambassador was hit by a bomb, killing the wife and daughter of an embassy employee," state news agency SPA said, quoting an unnamed ministry spokesperson.

The incident occurred as rebels seized Chad's capital after intense fighting with government forces, and as President Idriss Deby Itno remained holed up in the presidential palace.

At the time of the explosion, all of the mission's staff and their families were gathered in the residence in preparation for being evacuated, the spokesperson added, saying there was no question of a deliberate attack.

"The residence was not targeted. It was hit in the bombardments during the combat taking place in the Chadian capital," he said, adding that he did not know the origin of the bomb.

"The authorities are working to evacuate the employees of the embassy, their families and Saudi citizens in Chad," he said.

- AFP