Chad opposition HQ being demolished after leader killed

Yaya Dillo Djerou was the leading opponent and cousin of Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, who was proclaimed transitional president by the junta in 2021.

Dillo died on Wednesday after troops surrounded the Socialist Party Without Borders offices in the capital N'Djamena in what his party says was an "assassination".

Dillo, 49, had told AFP before his death that people wanted to "physically eliminate me" ahead of a May 6 presidential election due to return the central African country to constitutional rule.

A large excavator was demolishing the three-storey party building on Friday afternoon, AFP journalists saw.

An army security cordon kept people well back and armoured vehicles could be seen around the building.

The government had accused Dillo of leading an attack against the offices of Chad's internal security agency the night before his death.

He had "himself fired on the security forces", Communications Minister Abderaman Koulamallah said, adding four soldiers and three party militants, described as "assailants" and including Dillo, died in Wednesday's fighting.