A total of eight athletes from conflict-hit Cameroon are now missing from the Commonwealth Games in Australia, team officials said Wednesday. Three weightlifters and two boxers were initially reported to Australian police after not being seen since Tuesday, triggering suspicion they had fled with no intention of returning to Cameroon.
Cameroon press attache Simon Molombe told AFP the number of missing athletes had risen to eight - one third of the country's 24-strong team. "It came as a complete surprise," he said. "We have no idea where they are. The matter is in the hands of the police.
"There were no worries this kind of thing might happen," he insisted. "We continue to cooperate with the police."