Chadian security forces Monday put down an attempted coup by soldiers dissatisfied with pay suspension at an army garrison north of the capital, N'Djamena, reports reaching here said.

About 80 mutineers had attempted to ambush President Idriss Deby overnight near an exit east of the capital, local press quoted government officials as reporting.

Forces royal to the president surrounded the mutineers and managed to persuade them to lay down their arms, the officials said.

President Deby reportedly convened a special meeting Monday to deal with the situation.

Sources close to the president said the mutiny had been motivated by Deby's decision to suspend soldiers' salaries in an effort to fight alleged corruption in the armed forces.

Deby ordered an audit review in February, which found hundreds of ghost soldiers on the army payroll.

As a result, Deby ordered arrest of some financial officers andwithheld salary payments to soldiers over past two months.

Source: Xinhua