Chad’s Deby takes early election lead as rebels near Ndjamena

Partial results announced as US orders some diplomats to leave Chad amid reports of a rebel convoy nearing Ndjamena.

Chad’s President Idriss Deby has taken a strong early lead and appeared poised to extend his 30-year rule, partial provisional results of the April 11 presidential election showed, as the United States and the United Kingdom warned of possible violence in the Chadian capital, Ndjamena. The Independent National Election Commission (CENI) said on Saturday that Deby won a majority in all but one of the 51 departments announced so far, and secured a plurality in the other. Results from 61 departments are yet to be announced.