Chad troops block bridge as rebels say plot failed

N'DJAMENA, Mar 15 (Reuters) Chadian soldiers blocked off the main southern route out of the capital N'Djamena today and a rebel group opposed to President Idriss Deby said a coup plot it planned to launch against him had failed.

A Reuters reporter in N'Djamena saw troops preventing traffic from leaving the city across a bridge on the main route heading south towards Cameroon. Both national mobile phone networks were also off the air, one since late last night.

The SCUD rebel group, which includes Chadian army deserters who broke with Deby's government last year, told Reuters it had been forced to abort a coup plot against Deby after it was betrayed.

REUTERS SHR RN1857