Article content N’DJAMENA — Chad’s President Idriss Deby, who ruled his country for more than 30 years and was an important Western ally in the fight against Islamist militants in Africa, was killed on Monday in a battle against rebels in the north, authorities said. His son, Mahamat Idriss Deby, was named interim president by a transitional council of military officers, army spokesman Azem Bermendoa Agouna said on state television on Tuesday. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. Try refreshing your browser, or Chad leader Deby, key Western ally, killed in battle - army Back to video