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Last Updated: Wednesday, 22 June, 2005, 09:10 GMT 10:10 UK
Chad votes to end two-term limit
Chad's President Idriss Deby attends 17 May 2005 the closing session of an African mini-summit in Tripoli on peace efforts for Sudan's war-torn Darfur region
President Deby has won two multi-party elections
Voters in Chad have backed changes to the constitution to allow presidents to stand for a third term.

More than 77% of voters approved removing the two-term limit in a referendum held earlier this month, the election commission says.

President Idriss Deby, a former army chief who seized power before winning two elections, says the change was not meant to benefit him personally.

His opponents have criticised him as a man obsessed with power.

Opposition parties called for a boycott of the referendum, saying it was a "masquerade" designed to "turn the country into a monarchy."

Turnout was 71%, said election commission chairman Djimtibaye Lapia Neldjita,


SEE ALSO:
Q&A: Chad's referendum
03 Jun 05 |  Africa
Country profile: Chad
04 May 05 |  Country profiles
Timeline: Chad
16 Apr 05 |  Country profiles


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