N’DJAMENA, Chad (AP) — Chadians voted Sunday amid a low turnout in parliamentary and regional elections that will end a three-year transitional period from military rule but which the main opposition is boycotting after accusing authorities of not overseeing a credible electoral process.

Critics have dismissed the vote as a ploy to allow junta leader Mahamat Idriss Deby to entrench his power.View on euronews

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.