The Indian Ocean island of Madagascar has been gripped by a wave of political and social unrest that is sweeping across the country from south to north.
Several people were reportedly injured in May Day riots in the northern city of Antsiranana, reports said on Wednesday.
Students and opposition members were demanding the release from detention of a leading opposition politician, Roland Ratsiraka, who was arrested recently on charges of financial irregularities.
Ratsiraka, nephew of former president Didier Ratsiraka, is also mayor of the eastern port city of Tamatave.
Stone-throwing demonstrators clashed with security forces, shop windows were destroyed and cars were smashed, local media reports said.
Two members of the security forces were also reportedly taken hostage by the demonstrators.
The students were also protesting against non-payments of student grants and frequent power failures, issues that have sparked demonstrations in the south-western city of Tulear and the north-western city of Majunga over the past week.
Tulear was the scene of bloody clashes between protesters and security forces on the weekend in which about two dozen people were injured, five seriously. Dozens of shops were looted and damaged in the city.
Students have also demonstrated in recent days in the north-western city of Majunga.
Beleaguered state energy company Jirama is unable to assure round-the-clock electricity supply on the island — the world’s fourth largest.
The power failures have increased anger over service delivery in the impoverished country of 19,5-million people. — Sapa-dpa