By BBC
Chad’s main opposition parties say the army’s appointment of President Idriss Déby’s son as the nation’s new leader is an “institutional coup”.
Déby, 68 – who had been in power for three decades – died after being shot as he battled rebels on the frontline.
The rebels too have objected to the move, saying: “Chad is not a monarchy.”
Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, also known as “General Kaka”, was in charge of the presidential guard and is to lead the country for 18 months until elections.
The government and parliament have been dissolved, but constitutional experts say the speaker of parliament should take over when a sitting president dies before organising elections.
Déby’s death was announced on state TV on Tuesday – a day after provisional election results projected he would win a sixth term in office at the helm of the oil-rich country that has been at the forefront of regional efforts to fight Islamist militants.
There are fears that the death could trigger political instability in the vast semi-arid country with a long history of rebellions and coup attempts and where the opposition is weak and divided.
An umbrella group of trade unions has joined the opposition to reject the establishment of the Transitional Military Council, calling for dialogue and workers to stay at home until there is a resolution.
