Voting in Chad's first round presidential poll starts

Polling stations across Chad's national territory opened on Sunday morning for the start of voting in the country's first round presidential elections.

Over 6.2 million Chadians, both within and outside the country who are registered on the biometric register, are expected to vote for either of the 14 presidential candidates.

Incumbent President Idriss Deby Itno, in power for the last 25 years, is contesting for his fifth five-year term.

Some of his key rivals include opposition chief Saleh Kebzabo and ex-prime minister Joseph Djimrangar Dadnadji.

If no one gets 50 percent of the votes cast, the second round will be held on May 9, 2016.

The African Union has deployed an electoral observer mission to monitor the voting process.

Source: XINHUA