Opposition claims coup as Chad strongman Idriss Déby replaced by son

• Power should have passed to the parliamentary speaker, but he deferred in favor of the military.
• The opposition has decried the move as a coup. A powerful general has also spoken out, saying he represents many in the armed forces.
• But France has defended the unorthodox transition in a country that has served as a critical counter-terrorism partner in the Sahel. President Emmanuel Macron will attend the elder Déby's funeral on Friday.

The state of play: The circumstances of Déby's death remain unclear. Meanwhile residents of the capital are preparing to flee as fighting continues between the military and the rebels, DW reports.