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| Chad coup foiled, says government | Chad coup foiled, says government |
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| The government of Chad has said security forces foiled a coup attempt against President Idriss Deby that was in the planning for several months. | The government of Chad has said security forces foiled a coup attempt against President Idriss Deby that was in the planning for several months. |
| "Today, May 1, a group of individuals with bad intentions sought to carry out an action to destabilise the institutions of the republic," said Hassan Sylla Bakary, the communications minister of Chad. | "Today, May 1, a group of individuals with bad intentions sought to carry out an action to destabilise the institutions of the republic," said Hassan Sylla Bakary, the communications minister of Chad. |
| "They did not count on the valiant security forces who have tracked them since December 2012 and who, this morning, neutralised them," he said. | "They did not count on the valiant security forces who have tracked them since December 2012 and who, this morning, neutralised them," he said. |
| The impoverished former French colony in the west African desert has a long history of coups and rebellions. Deby himself led rebel troops into the capital, N'Djamena, in 1990 to seize power. He has since won four elections and cast himself as a key ally of the west against al-Qaida linked Islamist fighters across the vast, arid Sahel region. | The impoverished former French colony in the west African desert has a long history of coups and rebellions. Deby himself led rebel troops into the capital, N'Djamena, in 1990 to seize power. He has since won four elections and cast himself as a key ally of the west against al-Qaida linked Islamist fighters across the vast, arid Sahel region. |
| Bakary said the suspected plotters had been handed over to the state prosecutor. He did not reveal their identities or give further details of the plot. | Bakary said the suspected plotters had been handed over to the state prosecutor. He did not reveal their identities or give further details of the plot. |
| Chad's security services carried out a number of arrests within the ranks of the army on Wednesday, military sources told Reuters. At least one member of parliament, an opposition figure named Saleh Maki, was also detained, according to his family. | Chad's security services carried out a number of arrests within the ranks of the army on Wednesday, military sources told Reuters. At least one member of parliament, an opposition figure named Saleh Maki, was also detained, according to his family. |
| Deby sent around 2,000 troops to Mali this year to help drive out Islamist fighters who had seized the northern two-thirds of the country, earning him the gratitude of France which spearheaded the operation there. | Deby sent around 2,000 troops to Mali this year to help drive out Islamist fighters who had seized the northern two-thirds of the country, earning him the gratitude of France which spearheaded the operation there. |
| However, the president has plenty of enemies both at home and abroad. The UFR, a Chadian rebel coalition that laid down its weapons in 2010, warned in March that it would relaunch its campaign after Deby failed to enter talks. Last week Deby accused neighbouring Libya of allowing Chadian mercenaries to set up a training camp from where they could seek to destabilise his country, a charge Libyan authorities rejected. | However, the president has plenty of enemies both at home and abroad. The UFR, a Chadian rebel coalition that laid down its weapons in 2010, warned in March that it would relaunch its campaign after Deby failed to enter talks. Last week Deby accused neighbouring Libya of allowing Chadian mercenaries to set up a training camp from where they could seek to destabilise his country, a charge Libyan authorities rejected. |
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