An attack on Chad’s presidential palace left 18 assailants dead and six in custody, with one soldier killed and three wounded, state media reported Thursday.

An attack on Chad's presidency compound foiled by security forces on Wednesday was carried out by a disorganised band of intoxicated men wielding knives and machetes who were easily neutralised, the government spokesperson said.

N'DJAMENA (Reuters) -A foiled attack on Chad's presidential compound overnight was carried out by a group of two dozen armed "ill-intentioned individuals" who were neutralised by security forces, the public prosecutor said on Thursday, though details of the incident remained unclear.

Chad said it averted a “destabilization attempt” after security forces repelled two dozen assailants that briefly entered the presidency where the West African nation’s military leader had received China’s foreign minister.

Chad's government has said security forces had thwarted an alleged effort to destabilise the country on Wednesday night, after a group of people attacked the presidential palace in the capital, N'Djamena.

Chad: Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah on Thursday described a foiled attack on the presidential compound as an amateur operation that posed no real threat to the government. The national prosecutor said 18 attackers and two security guards were killed in the attack.