Chadians were voting on Sunday in a parliamentary election boycotted by the opposition that will likely consolidate President Mahamat Idriss Deby's power and complete the oil-producing nation's transition towards constitutional rule.

Chadians have voted in parliamentary and regional elections that will end the three-year transitional period from military rule but which the main opposition is boycotting.

Chad began voting on Sunday in a general election that is presented by the government as a key step towards ending military rule but has been boycotted by the opposition.The government has presented the elections as the final stage in the transition to democracy.

Voting under way in Chad’s contentious parliamentary election Voting is under way in Chad’s first parliamentary election in 13 years, which the government has presented as a key step towards ending military rule.