Government claims it busted a plot involving a group of 11 army officers, led by Baradine Berdei Targuio, president of Chadian Organisation of Human Rights.
Government forces fire on protesters in capital N’Djamena and second-largest city Moundou, leaving at least 60 people dead and some 300 wounded, officials say.
Floods have hit 18 of the country's 23 provinces, affecting millions and "swallowing up more than 465,000 hectares of fields and 19,000 heads of livestock," says President Mahamat Idriss Deby.
More than 1,400 delegates from the military government, civil society, opposition parties, trade unions and rebel groups gathered in N'djamena for the talks that are scheduled to last three weeks.
In the absence of the main rebel group, over 40 opposition groups agreed to a ceasefire ahead of the August 20 talks planned in the Chadian capital of N’Djamena.
Rebel groups accused the interim government representatives of creating a “bad atmosphere” at talks and announcing the August 20 national dialogue without any consultation.
Mahamat Idriss Deby, who leads Transitional Military Council, offers "frank and sincere dialogue" to armed groups, reversing previous stance the government will not negotiate with rebels.
The Transitional Military Council, headed by late ruler Idris Deby's son Mahamat, appointed a government comprising 40 ministers and deputy ministers, and also created a new national reconciliation ministry, army spokesman said on Sunday.
Fresh fighting in western Chad pits Libya-based rebels against forces loyal to a new military junta led by deceased President Deby's son.
"We have affirmed our availability to observe a truce, a ceasefire ... but this morning we were bombarded again," says Mahamat Mahadi Ali, head of the Front for Change and Concord in Chad.
Deby, a close Western ally, was killed in battle with rebels on Monday, raising concern in the US and France that turmoil and uncertainty following his death will hamper the fight against militants across the Sahel region.
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