Chad says bid to storm into presidential palace foiled, 20 dead

N´DJAMENA: Two dozen armed men tried to storm into Chad´s presidential palace but 18 of the attackers and two soldiers were killed in the failed attack, the national prosecutor said on Thursday.

Heavy gunfire erupted near the presidential complex just before 8:00 pm local time (1900 GMT) on Wednesday in the centre of N´Djamena, the capital of the military-ruled, central African country.

Roads leading to the presidential palace were blocked and tanks could be seen on the streets, an AFP reporter at the scene said at the time.