Chad government closes university after protests .
N'DJAMENA 1996-08-30
The government of Chad has closed N'Djamena University after two days of protests over grant arrears in which Education Minister Nagoum Yamassoum was held hostage for four hours , state radio said on Friday .
" The minister and his colleagues who were held in the rector 's office were freed thanks an intervention by gendarmes , " one university official said .
" Angry students cut the telephone , water and electricity of the university offices before smashing the windows and breaking down the doors . "
Paramilitary police detained more than 120 students in the protest .
The students ' union said second and third-year students were demanding four months of unpaid grants .
End-of-year examinations would go ahead on September 2 despite the closure , university officials said .