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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Madagascar president 'must quit' | Madagascar president 'must quit' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Pressure is mounting on the president of the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar to quit after a day of fresh protests in the capital Antananarivo. | Pressure is mounting on the president of the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar to quit after a day of fresh protests in the capital Antananarivo. |
| Elements within the army have called on Marc Ravalomanana to go, and the main opposition party is planning a rally in the city centre on Saturday. | Elements within the army have called on Marc Ravalomanana to go, and the main opposition party is planning a rally in the city centre on Saturday. |
| Its leader Andry Rajoelina is expected to emerge from hiding for the event. | |
| The president's appeal for supporters to rally to his cause drew only about 500 people to his palace on Friday. | The president's appeal for supporters to rally to his cause drew only about 500 people to his palace on Friday. |
| Seven weeks of political tension in Madagascar have brought the country to the brink of military intervention, the BBC's Jonah Fisher in Antananarivo reports. | |
| The army appears almost as divided as the politicians and there is support within the military both for President Ravalomanana and Mr Rajoelina, who was sacked by the government as mayor of the capital last month. | |
| The US ambassador has warned this could turn into civil war and, with the president's supporters pledging to defend his palace, any attempt at a military solution could be bloody. | The US ambassador has warned this could turn into civil war and, with the president's supporters pledging to defend his palace, any attempt at a military solution could be bloody. |
| At least 100 people have been killed since opposition protests began in late January. | At least 100 people have been killed since opposition protests began in late January. |
| For a country with unique rainforest and wildlife - the financial impact of the crisis is already clear, our correspondent adds. | For a country with unique rainforest and wildlife - the financial impact of the crisis is already clear, our correspondent adds. |
| A tourist industry worth nearly $400m (£290m) a year has now had two months with no revenue. | |
| Assassination fear | Assassination fear |
| Col Noel Rakotonandrasa, leader of the mutinying troops, urged President Ravalomanana to quit "at once" on Friday. | Col Noel Rakotonandrasa, leader of the mutinying troops, urged President Ravalomanana to quit "at once" on Friday. |
| "For sure there will be no resistance," he told the BBC. | "For sure there will be no resistance," he told the BBC. |
| CRISIS TIMELINE 8 March: Section of the army joins opposition9 March: Rajoelina goes into hiding10 March: Defence minster ousted11 March: Army chief of staff forced out12 March: Military police chief defies government Q&A: Madagascar power struggle "But if there is any, there's other solutions we can discuss with the presidential guard. We want the president to go, so he should resign at once." | |
| He said a UN official had gone to see the president to convey the mutineers' wishes that he step down. | He said a UN official had gone to see the president to convey the mutineers' wishes that he step down. |
| Despite reports that the army had deployed tanks, there appeared to be little military presence on the city's streets on Friday. | Despite reports that the army had deployed tanks, there appeared to be little military presence on the city's streets on Friday. |
| Mr Ravalomanana said he would do everything to try to re-establish order but added that his life was under threat. | Mr Ravalomanana said he would do everything to try to re-establish order but added that his life was under threat. |
| He said: "My assassination would not be in your interest. The people would suffer, and the international community would not accept it. | He said: "My assassination would not be in your interest. The people would suffer, and the international community would not accept it. |
| "Once again, I call on the army and the forces of order to remain united, and remain neutral." | "Once again, I call on the army and the forces of order to remain united, and remain neutral." |
| Residents gathered outside the presidential palace saying they wanted to protect democracy in response to Mr Ravalomana's radio appeal. | Residents gathered outside the presidential palace saying they wanted to protect democracy in response to Mr Ravalomana's radio appeal. |
| According to AFP news agency, about 2,000 opposition protesters also gathered on Friday at the city's May 13 Square for a new rally in support of Mr Rajoelina. | According to AFP news agency, about 2,000 opposition protesters also gathered on Friday at the city's May 13 Square for a new rally in support of Mr Rajoelina. |
| The opposition leader has been attempting to establish a parallel government by naming an alternative cabinet. | The opposition leader has been attempting to establish a parallel government by naming an alternative cabinet. |
| Mr Rajoelina is a 34-year-old former DJ and businessman who was sacked as mayor of the capital last month. | Mr Rajoelina is a 34-year-old former DJ and businessman who was sacked as mayor of the capital last month. |
| He went into hiding earlier this month after the security forces tried to arrest him. | |
| Are you in Madagascar? Are you affected by the issues in this story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you in Madagascar? Are you affected by the issues in this story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |