Wearing the head-to-toe garment that authorities banned last month, the man blew himself up at the entrance to a market in N'Djamena at about 8:45 a.m. local time (0745 UTC) Saturday, a police officer said.

A witness told Reuters news agency that at least 10 bodies were seen covered in blankets, lying near the entrance to the marketplace.

Around 80 people were seriously injured in the explosion and aid workers were seen treating them at the scene.

Immediately after the attacks, fingers were pointed at Boko Haram Islamists who are conducting an insurgency in Chad, Nigeria and Cameroon.

On Wednesday, Boko Haram claimed responsibility for several other blasts in the Chadian capital last month that killed nearly 50 people. In twin attacks on June 15, bombers on motorcycles targeted the police academy and police headquarters in the city.

Two weeks later, two more suicide blasts in N'Djamena killed a further 11 people.

Following those blasts, the Chad military bombed Boko Haram positions in Nigeria and further stepped up security at home.

mm/jlw (AFP, Reuters)