/ 20 April 2009

Madagascan protests turn deadly

Madagascar government soldiers killed and wounded several people on Monday when they fired into a demonstration in the capital, Antananarivo.

Madagascar government soldiers killed and wounded several people on Monday when they fired into a demonstration in the capital Antananarivo, the television broadcaster TVplus reported.

The report said that one of those killed was a policeman.

Unconfirmed media reports at the scene spoke of at least three people killed and several others seriously wounded, as several cars and a building went up in flames.

The violence occurred when some 10 000 demonstrators sought to march to the Senate building in Antananarivo in a march to protest against the shutdown of two radio stations.

Soldiers initially fired tear gas into the demonstrations, but when demonstrators retaliated by hurling stones, the soldiers then fired with their weapons into the crowd, the reports said.

According to eyewitness accounts, the confrontation lasted several hours.

The violence is the latest incident in the months-long power struggle in which interim President Andry Rajoelina with the help of the military ousted his predecessor Marc Ravalomanana. — Sapa-dpa