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| Madagascar officers launch mutiny | Madagascar officers launch mutiny |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Officers in a military camp near Madagascar's capital of Antananarivo have mutinied, refusing to take any more orders from the government. | Officers in a military camp near Madagascar's capital of Antananarivo have mutinied, refusing to take any more orders from the government. |
| A BBC reporter in the capital says a group of officers announced they would now follow opposition leader and former city mayor Andry Rajoelina. | A BBC reporter in the capital says a group of officers announced they would now follow opposition leader and former city mayor Andry Rajoelina. |
| Antananarivo is peaceful despite the announcement, our correspondent adds. | Antananarivo is peaceful despite the announcement, our correspondent adds. |
| But the island nation is in crisis amid a power struggle between Mr Rajoelina and President Marc Ravalomanana. | But the island nation is in crisis amid a power struggle between Mr Rajoelina and President Marc Ravalomanana. |
| Roads to the military camp in Soanierana district, around 6km (four miles) from the city centre, have been blocked by mutineering soldiers, according to AFP news agency. | Roads to the military camp in Soanierana district, around 6km (four miles) from the city centre, have been blocked by mutineering soldiers, according to AFP news agency. |
| "We no longer take orders from our hierarchy, we are following our hearts. We were trained to protect property and citizens, not to fire at people. We are with the people," an unnamed soldier told AFP. | "We no longer take orders from our hierarchy, we are following our hearts. We were trained to protect property and citizens, not to fire at people. We are with the people," an unnamed soldier told AFP. |
| Mr Rajoelina went into in hiding on Saturday, after security forces last week tried to arrest him. | |
| Last week, Mr Ravalomanana pledged to intensify the crackdown against the opposition movement and end a political crisis that has crippled the Indian Ocean island since December. | Last week, Mr Ravalomanana pledged to intensify the crackdown against the opposition movement and end a political crisis that has crippled the Indian Ocean island since December. |
| Mr Rajoelina, who was sacked as the capital's mayor last month, has accused the president of being a dictator. | |
| The 34-year-old former DJ turned politician has declared himself president and announced his own administration. | |
| President Ravalomanana denies abusing power and says he will remain in power until the end of his mandate in 2011. |