Chad Military Claims Victory Over Rebels in North 

N'DJAMENA - Chad's military claimed victory on Sunday in its weeks-long battle with northern rebels that led to the death of President Idriss Deby on the battlefield.  

The rebel group Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT) did not respond to a request for comment. The transitional military authorities have previously said they have defeated the rebels only for fighting to continue.   The fighting and broader political instability are being closely watched. Chad is a key power in central Africa and a longtime Western ally against Islamist militants across the Sahel region.   Crowds in the capital N'Djamena cheered on Sunday as soldiers returned from the front line in a column of tanks and armored vehicles.