France flew out the two Mirage fighter jets it had stationed in Chad on Tuesday, signaling the beginning of its withdrawal of military forces from the former French colony in central Africa that last month broke off its defense cooperation agreement with Paris.

French fighter aircraft left Chad for good on Tuesday after N'Djamena decided last month to end military cooperation with the former colonial power, the French military said. "The French armies are withdrawing today the fighter jet capability present in N'Djamena,

Chad's President Mahamat Deby said the decision to terminate the country's military pact with France was taken because it had become outdated, in his first public remarks since the surprise announcement last week.