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Chad: N'Djamena arrests follow 'failed coup' | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Several people including an opposition MP have been arrested in the Chad capital N'Djamena, in what the government has described as an attempted "destabilisation plot". | |
A government statement said a "small group" had been conspiring for more than four months. | A government statement said a "small group" had been conspiring for more than four months. |
Leaders of the alleged plot were being investigated by prosecutors, it added. | Leaders of the alleged plot were being investigated by prosecutors, it added. |
Chad has a long history of coups and revolts. Current President Idriss Deby himself seized power in a coup in 1990. | Chad has a long history of coups and revolts. Current President Idriss Deby himself seized power in a coup in 1990. |
"A small group of ill-intentioned individuals attempted to carry out a destabilisation plot against the institutions of the republic," the government said. | "A small group of ill-intentioned individuals attempted to carry out a destabilisation plot against the institutions of the republic," the government said. |
It said that the country's security forces "neutralised" them, without specifying how many people were involved in the alleged action. | It said that the country's security forces "neutralised" them, without specifying how many people were involved in the alleged action. |
Police and opposition sources said opposition MP Saleh Makki was among those held. | Police and opposition sources said opposition MP Saleh Makki was among those held. |
The security services also carried out a number of arrests in the army, military sources told Reuters news agency. | The security services also carried out a number of arrests in the army, military sources told Reuters news agency. |
Since its independence from France in 1960, Chad's history has been marked by instability and violence stemming mostly from tension between the mainly Arab-Muslim north and the predominantly Christian and animist south. | Since its independence from France in 1960, Chad's history has been marked by instability and violence stemming mostly from tension between the mainly Arab-Muslim north and the predominantly Christian and animist south. |
Earlier this year, Chad deployed some 2,000 troops to help oust Islamists who had seized large swathes of territory in Mali. | Earlier this year, Chad deployed some 2,000 troops to help oust Islamists who had seized large swathes of territory in Mali. |