Nigeria, April 20 -- The Chadian military has successfully executed what could be described as a coup following the death of President Idriss Deby on Tuesday.

Mr Deby, 68, died on Tuesday from injuries sustained while leading the military in a battle against insurgents, the army said.

Rather than follow the constitutional provision that mandates the speaker of the parliament to hold office for 40 days in the case of the death of the president, the army said it was dissolving the Chadian parliament, suspending the constitution and naming Mr Idris' son, Mahamat Kaka, interim president of the country.

The 37-year-old Mr Kaka, a major-general in the Chadian army, will now lead a military council for an 18 months transition period, army spo...