Chad arrests over political killing

Parliamentary elections took place on Sunday in Chad

The authorities in Chad say they have made a series of arrests in connection with the killing on Sunday of a senior opposition leader, Mahamat Gueti.

Reports say Mr Gueti, the leader of the African Democratic Party, died when his car was blown up by a landmine on the road to Faya-Largeau airport in the north of the country.

Parliamentary elections took place on Sunday and he had been travelling between polling stations.

The north of Chad is peppered with unexploded landmines dating from the 1973-94 border conflict between Chad and Libya.

The government has not said how many people were arrested or why Mr Mahamat may have been killed.

Leaders 'at large'

However, the interior minister Mr Abderaman Moussa told the BBC further details would be announced at a news conference later on Wednesday.

President Deby: Expected to boost his control

Mr Moussa said several people had been arrested not far from Faya-Largeau but did not disclose how many, and said their leaders were still at large.

Mr Gueti's PDA was part of a coalition of parties opposed to President Idriss Deby's ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS).

Final results are expected in about a week, but Mr Deby's MPS is widely expected to win a majority in the 155-seat parliament.

Presidential vote

Mr Deby seized power in a 1990 rebellion and won presidential elections in 1996 and 2001.

Chad is one of the world's poorest countries, with about 64% of the population living below the poverty line, the World Bank estimates.

The MPS is assured of winning 45 unopposed seats in the sparsely populated north, and his allies are sole candidates in another 20 of the 155 posts.

Last year's presidential vote, which was marred by accusations of irregularities, gave Mr Deby outright control of parliament.