Turkey expresses sadness over Chad president's passing

By Merve Aydogan

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey on Wednesday expressed its sadness over the death of Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno, who recently died on the frontlines of Chad's battle against rebels.

"We are saddened to receive the news that Idriss Déby Itno, President of Chad, has passed away as a result of the clashes that occurred with the armed opposition groups," said a Foreign Ministry statement.

The ministry also extended its condolences to the country, saying: " We extend our sincere condolences to the friendly and brotherly people and Government of Chad, due to the loss of President Idriss Déby Itno who contributed considerably to the establishment of friendly and brotherly relations between Turkey and Chad."

Itno, who won a sixth consecutive term with 79.3% of the vote in the April 11 elections, was visiting troops battling rebels belonging to a group calling itself FACT -- the Front for Change and Concord in Chad. He died just a day after his re-election. He was 68.

A landlocked Sahelian country in Central Africa, Chad has been struggling with security challenges associated with conflicts in bordering countries, as well as the impact of climate change for the past decade.