Chad opposition held after Deby victory

President Deby recorded an overwhelming victory

Chad's six unsuccessful presidential candidates were all picked up for questioning by police on Monday and then released an hour later.

One of the candidates, Saleh Kebzabo, of the National Union for Development and Renewal, said an elite police unit had arrested them at his home.

Mr Kebzabo: arrested by elite police unit

The six men were meeting just hours after it was announced that Chad's incumbent President Idriss Deby had won an outright majority in the first round of voting, making a second round unnecessary.

The six opposition candidates had issued a joint statement last Thursday alleging fraud in the 20 May poll, but foreign observers said the vote appeared to be fair.

Mr Kebzabo told the BBC the arrests came after a spontaneous demonstration by youth members of the opposition outside his house.

Several people were injured in a scuffle during the arrests and guns were fired.

Chad results

Idriss Deby: 67.35%

Ngarlejy Yorongar: 13.94%

Saleh Kebzabo: 6.53%

The interior minister had previously banned a planned opposition meeting at the racecourse in the capital, Ndjamena.

The Independent National Electoral Commission said on Monday that Idriss Deby had taken 67.35% of the vote, well ahead of his nearest rivals.

Ngarlejy Yorongar, of the Republic Action Federation, won 13.94% of the vote, while Saleh Kebzabo took 6.53%.

Opposition candidates have five days to appeal against the results.

The country's constitutional council has until 18 June to confirm the electoral commission's figures.

Allegations of fraud

The first presidential poll in 1996 was marred by accusations of electoral fraud.

Mr Deby seized power in a coup in 1990, then stood for election six years later.

His country is one of the poorest in the world, but Mr Deby should benefit from an unexpected financial transformation of the country.

Large oil reserves have been discovered in the south-west of the country and the first exports are expected to begin in the latter half of his new presidential term.

A pipeline is being built by an American oil company through to the Atlantic coastline of neighbouring Cameroon.