N'DJAMENA (AFP) - The Chadian government announced on Thursday that it was withdrawing from the African peacekeeping force in Central African Republic, denouncing "a wanton and malicious campaign" against its troops.

The government said Chad decided to withdraw its contingent from the MISCA force after having informed the president of the Central African Republic, the African Union and the UN Secretary General.

At the weekend, Chadian troops killed 24 people after firing into a crowd in the capital Bangui, amid claims they were responding to a hand grenade attack.