Hundreds of protesters demonstrated on Thursday outside the offices of Madagascar’s president, a day after talks to resolve the island’s months-old political crisis were shelved.
The group broke off from around 3 000 opposition demonstrators attending a rally in the centre of the capital Antananarivo, and later rejoined the main rally after the brief protest outside the office of President Marc Ravalomanana.
Security forces prevented the marchers from reaching the office.
A previous attempt last month to march on Ravalomanana’s office ended with security forces opening fire on the opposition protesters, killing 28.
The Indian Ocean island has been gripped by a political crisis since late January when former Antananarivo mayor Andry Rajoelina called for anti-government demonstrations.
More than 100 people have been killed in the unrest, mainly at the hands of the security forces.
Rajoelina has accused the president of running a dictatorship.
Ravalomanana admitted on Tuesday he had made mistakes over the crisis and said was open to a negotiated settlement.
But talks due on Thursday aimed at resolving the crisis were shelved after Rajoelina said he would not attend. — AFP