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Madagascar president 'must quit' Protesters gather in Madagascar
(30 minutes 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. Hundreds of opposition supporters have gathered in Madagascar's capital to demand the resignation of President Marc Ravalomanana.
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. The president's bitter enemy, Andry Rajoelina, is expected to emerge from hiding for the rally in Antananarivo.
Its leader Andry Rajoelina is expected to emerge from hiding for the event. Mutinying army troops have demanded that Mr Ravalomanana should resign.
The president's appeal for supporters to rally to his cause drew only about 500 people to his palace on Friday. The power struggle has brought seven weeks of riots, protests and looting, leaving the Indian Ocean island on the brink of intervention by the military.
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 BBC's Jonah Fisher in Antananarivo says the army appears almost as divided as the politicians.
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. There is support within the military both for President Ravalomanana and Mr Rajoelina, he says.
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 demonstrations broke out in late January.
At least 100 people have been killed since opposition protests began in late January. The opposition rally on Saturday is being held at Antananarivo's May 13 Plaza - epicentre of popular revolts since independence from France in 1960.
For a country with unique rainforest and wildlife - the financial impact of the crisis is already clear, our correspondent adds. A radio appeal by the president on Friday for supporters to rally to his cause drew only about 500 people to his palace.
On Wednesday, the leader of a widening mutiny within the army ousted the chief of staff.
A day later the military police said it would no longer take orders from the government.
Col Noel Rakotonandrasa, spokesman for the dissident troops, urged the president to quit "at once" on Friday. "For sure there will be no resistance," he told the BBC.
Mr Ravalomanana - who has said he wants to stay in power until his mandate runs out in 2011 - vowed to re-establish order but said his life was under threat.
"My assassination would not be in your interest," he said. "The people would suffer, and the international community would not accept it."
Mr Rajoelina - a 34-year-old businessman and former DJ who was sacked last month by the government as mayor of the capital - went into hiding last week after the security forces tried to arrest him.
The opposition leader - who accuses the president of being a tyrant who has misspent public money - has been trying to establish a parallel government by naming an alternative cabinet.
The US state department warned on Friday the situation in Madagascar had "entered a dangerous phase" and urged the political rivals to "urgently commit" to talks.
For a country with unique rainforest and wildlife - the financial impact of the crisis is already clear, our correspondent says.
A tourist industry worth nearly $400m (£290m) a year has now had two months with no revenue.A tourist industry worth nearly $400m (£290m) a year has now had two months with no revenue.
Assassination fear Under President Ravalomanana, Madagascar's economy has opened to foreign investment but 70% of the nation's 20 million population still live on incomes of less than $2 (£1.40) a day.
Col Noel Rakotonandrasa, spokesman for the mutinying troops, urged President Ravalomanana to quit "at once" on Friday.
"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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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