Troops vigilant after Chad explosion

IRISH troops in Chad were monitoring the security situation in the troubled African country last night following an explosion in the capital, N’djamena.

At least seven civilians were killed and 15 injured when the blast rocked a marketplace in the city without prior warning at about 4pm Irish time.

About 420 Irish soldiers serving with the EU’s peacekeeping mission, Eufor, based near Goz Beida in eastern Chad, about 725km from the capital.