Chad military council lifts curfew

By Rodrigue Forku

YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AA) - The Chadian Transitional Military Council has lifted a curfew imposed on April 20 following the death of President Idriss Deby Itno.

A statement by Gen. Azem Bermandoua Agouna, the military council’s spokesman, said the curfew had been lifted on Sunday “after evaluating the steps initially taken by the Transitional Military Council across the country and the security situation."

The military council is in charge of the 18-month transitional government, after which it will hold democratic elections.

It is chaired by Gen. Mahamat Idriss Deby, the son of the late president who died from wounds sustained in fighting with rebel forces, a day after he was proclaimed the winner of a presidential election, handing him a sixth term in office.

A nighttime curfew from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. was put in place throughout the national territory, and land and air borders were closed.

Last week, at least six people were killed and many others injured during protests in the capital N'Djamena and in the second-largest city of Moundou as protesters called for a return to civilian rule.

While Gen. Mahamat has promised an "inclusive national dialogue," Albert Pahimi Padacke has been appointed as the country's prime minister to propose a transitional government.