France says evacuates 700 people from Chad

PARIS (Reuters) - France has evacuated at least 700 people from Chad, its Foreign Ministry said on Sunday, as fighting raged in the African state's capital between government and rebel troops.

A ministry statement added that there were a further 450 foreigners currently in the Chad capital of N'Djamena who might fly out later. This figure included 200 French nationals.

France has been flying out people from N'Djamena to the Gabonese capital of Libreville. Passengers will then be flown to Paris and the first set of passengers are due to arrive in Paris later on Sunday.

(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Dominic Evans)