Twenty-eight people were killed in Madagascar on Saturday in protests violently put down by the security forces, the police in said on Sunday in a revised toll that put the number of injured past 200.
Presidential security forces opened fire at anti-government protestors who tried to march on President Marc Ravalomanana’s office after a rally in the capital, Antananarivo.
”In the city’s three main hospitals, we counted 28 dead and 212 wounded,” said Captain Lala Rakotonirina, spokesperson of the national police force.
The previous toll, given late on Saturday by the fire brigade, was 23 dead and 83 wounded.
University hospital official Eric Rambinison said 90% of the injured had sustained bullet wounds.
Sunday’s toll brought to 96 the number of those killed in protests that erupted January 26 when the now-sacked Antananarivo mayor Andry Rajoelina called for anti-government demonstrations. — AFP
