The leader of Chad, allied to France, hailed ties with Russia during a Moscow meeting on Wednesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said the Kremlin would help to "stabilize" the African country, according to AFP.

Chad's transitional president General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno told Putin he wanted to "reinforce relations with a friendly country", while Putin said Moscow would "support" Chad's efforts to "stabilize the situation in the country."