Chadian opposition parties reject re-election of outgoing president Deby

Eight Chadian presidential candidates reaffirmed their refusal to recognize the victory of outgoing President Idriss Deby in the presidential election which was held on April 10.

Deby, candidate of ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement, won 61.56 percent of the votes, according to the provisional results released Thursday night by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI). The leader of the opposition Saleh Kebzabo won 12.8 percent of votes.

There were six million registered voters in the presidential election and the turnout was over 70 percent, CENI said.

In a joint statement, the 8 candidates denounced what they said fraud in the election and urged people to safeguard their rights.

The Constitutional Council will verify the election before May 8.

Deby, the president of ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement which was founded by himself in 1990, became president in March, 1991, and was elected as president in 1996, re-elected in 2001, 2006 and 2011.

Source: XINHUA