N'Djamena (AFP) - About "thirty" people, including "about ten" security personnel, were killed Thursday during clashes in N'Djamena between the police and demonstrators against the extension of the political transition in Chad , according to the government spokesman.

"A banned demonstration turned into a rebellion. About thirty people were killed, including about ten members of the security forces, and a large number of wounded. The demonstrators attacked public buildings, the headquarters of the governorate, the headquarters of the Prime Minister's party and the headquarters of the head of the National Assembly," Aziz Muhammad Salih told AFP.

France, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, condemned the violence. The ministry said in a statement that "violence occurred this morning in Chad, especially with the use of lethal weapons against demonstrators, which France condemns," stressing at the same time that Paris "plays no role in these events."

Meanwhile, the Chadian Red Cross Society announced that it had deployed "dozens of teams" to tense areas of the capital. "We are providing first aid and transporting dozens of wounded people by car to hospitals," its head, Al-Khala Ahmed Al-Senussi, told AFP.

These clashes are taking place after the transitional period has been extended for two years, after it was scheduled to end on Thursday, October 20th.

However, at the end of September, Mohamed Idriss Deby Itno remained in his position as head of state until the organization of free and democratic elections, which are supposed to be held at the end of the second transitional period in which Deby will be able to run.

Idriss Deby Itno's stay in power came at the end of the comprehensive and sovereign national dialogue (DNIS), which was boycotted by a large part of the opposition, completing the targeting of the political and armed opposition and embarrassing the international community that had supported Deby 18 months ago.

The army announced him as a transitional president on April 20, 2021, at the head of a transitional military council that includes 15 generals, on the same day as the announcement of the death of his father, Idriss Deby Itno, who was killed on the front after ruling Chad for nearly thirty years.

Clouds of black smoke and tear gas shots were seen in the capital on Thursday morning, while barricades were set up in several parts of the city and tires were burned on main roads, according to AFP journalists in N'Djamena.

The demonstration was banned on Wednesday by the authorities.

Abbas Muhammad, 35, said, "I went out to demonstrate to denounce this facade dialogue that perpetuates the regime and to demand a change of power. In 31 years, we have not witnessed any positive change in our country."

In the center of the capital, Mohamed Mbodo told AFP, while staring at his phone to follow events in the south of the city, "we were told that there was a demonstration in the city and I came like my other colleagues to stay in front of my shop to avoid looting."

In the sixth district, the stronghold of the opposition and home to Prime Minister Saleh Kabzano, the streets were deserted. An AFP journalist also indicated that tires, tree trunks and piles of bricks were scattered in the streets, while schools and universities were closed.

The demonstrators targeted the headquarters of the National Union for Development and Renewal, to which Kabzabo belongs, which was "partially burned," the party's vice-president, Celestin Tubona, told AFP.

Kabzabo had joined the government appointed by the military council led by Mohamed Idriss Deby Itno, after he was a historical opponent of his father, who ruled the country with an iron fist for 30 years.

"They are shooting at us. They are killing our people," said Soxieh insisting, one of the most prominent dissidents.

Soldiers of the only general who refused to respect his word, and today is the end of the 18 months, thus he intends to install his dynasty by killing people,” after he had called on people to demonstrate peacefully.