About 8Â 000 demonstrators marched through the capital of the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar on Wednesday in support of Antananarivo ex-mayor Andry Rajoelina, who is embroiled in a bitter power struggle with President Marc Ravalomanana.
The 34-year-old former mayor, who last week unilaterally declared himself the island’s leader, has called for a sit-in in front of his former offices.
On Tuesday the government sacked him as mayor, apparently for leading a string of anti-government protests that ended last week in widespread looting. Over 100 people were reported to have died in the violence.
Rajoelina expressly asked foreign nationals to remain at home on Wednesday, following a surge in anti-foreigner rhetoric by his supporters.
The opposition accuses Western powers of supporting Ravalomanana, whom they accuse of authoritarianism and of a lack of regard for the island’s legions of poor people.
Rajoelina on Monday went to the country’s top court and Parliament with a petition to strip the president of his powers.
However, the rebellion has always faced long odds. Madagascar’s parliament remains firmly in the hands of Ravalomanana’s supporters.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told an African Union summit in Ethiopia on Monday he was ”particularly concerned” about the developments in Madagascar and urged the parties to address their differences peacefully. — Sapa-dpa