At Least 50 Die In Clashes With Security Forces

At least 50 people have been killed in fighting between protesters and security forces during demonstrations across Chad, reports France 24.

On Thursday, protesters took to the streets to mark the expiration of an 18-month deadline on which the military pledged to return power to a civilian government.

On Oct. 1, a conference staged by junta leader Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, son of the former authoritarian leader Idriss Deby, approved a new 24-month timeframe for holding elections and named Deby “transitional president” as well as permitting him to stand in future elections.

Prime Minister Saleh Kebzabo said that at least 50 people had been killed and dozens injured in nationwide protests and announced an overnight curfew.

The deaths mainly occurred in N’Djamena, the capital, and included at least 10 members of the security forces, a government spokesman told Agence France-Presse.

The spokesman accused protesters of attacking public buildings, including the offices of the governor, the headquarters of the prime minister’s political party and that of the speaker of parliament.

The U.N. condemned the violence against the demonstrators.