President of Chad, Idriss Déby has been killed in battle with rebels in the northern part of the country.
The army reports on State TV that the tragedy took place at the weekend.
His death came shortly after provisional election results which projected he would win a sixth term in office, with 80% of the vote, the BBC reports.
The government and parliament have been dissolved. A military council will govern for the next 18 months.
Mr Déby came to power in an armed uprising in 1990.
He had gone to the front line at the weekend to visit troops battling rebels based across the border in Libya.
