This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7945681.stm

The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 12 Version 13
Call to arrest Madagascar leader Call to arrest Madagascar leader
(about 2 hours later)
Madagascar opposition leader Andry Rajoelina has asked security forces to arrest President Marc Ravalomanana, after snubbing his referendum proposal.Madagascar opposition leader Andry Rajoelina has asked security forces to arrest President Marc Ravalomanana, after snubbing his referendum proposal.
Mr Rajoelina, a 34-year-old former disc jockey, said he and his supporters would take the presidential palace in the capital Antananarivo on Monday. Mr Rajoelina, a 34-year-old former DJ, said he knew what the people wanted and added he was impatient to take office.
A BBC correspondent says previous opposition calls to oust the president have not been followed through. The African Union condemned this as an "attempted coup d'etat" and called on Madagascar to respect its constitution.
Earlier two suspected mortar shells landed near the presidential palace. Protests, looting and a mutiny has resulted from the unrest that has left at least 100 people dead since January.
A spokesman for the president said the blasts - for which the army denied responsibility - had been designed to intimidate his supporters. Power belongs to the people. It's only fair to organise a referendum class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6210&edition=1">What next for Madagascar? The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Antananarivo says Mr Rajoelina has wrapped himself in the cloak of democracy, but he wants to replace an elected head of state without going to a ballot.
The power struggle between the president and opposition leader has triggered a military mutiny, deadly protests and looting which have left at least 100 people dead in the Indian Ocean island since January. FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/index.shtml">More from BBC World Service
Last roll of the dice? Earlier the army denied responsibility after two suspected mortar shells landed not far from the presidential palace.
The African Union is holding an emergency meeting to discuss what it calls the "worsening situation" in Madagascar. A spokesman for the president said the blasts had been designed to intimidate his supporters.
Addressing his supporters at a rally in the capital, the opposition leader said: "I ask the army and police, and all those who can, to carry out the minister of justice's demand, because Andry Rajoelina is impatient to get into office," reported Reuters new agency. CRISIS TIMELINE Dec 2006: Marc Ravalomanana re-elected as president31 Jan 2009: Opposition's Andry Rajoelina says he is in charge3 Feb: Rajoelina sacked as mayor of Antananarivo; protests intensify8 Feb: Security forces fire on opposition rally leaving 28 dead11 March: Dissident troops oust army chief15 March: Ravalomanana proposes to hold referendum16 March: Rajoelina calls for president's arrest class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7944606.stm">Crisis isolates president class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7935682.stm">Q&A: Madagascar in crisis class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7943820.stm">Madagascar's 'young pretender' On Monday, President Ravalomanana told a cabinet meeting he would only step down "democratically".
Christine Razanamahasoa - named by Mr Rajoelina as minister of justice as part of his attempts to set up a parallel administration - had earlier told the rally she was ordering prosecutors to arrest the president. He also revealed the question for his proposed referendum to settle the crisis would be: "Do you accept for the current president of the republic to complete his mandate as provided by the constitution?"
The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Antananarivo says Mr Rajoelina has made several previous threats against Mr Ravalomanana, most recently a four-hour deadline to quit on Saturday. Mr Ravalomanana, who was democratically re-elected for a second term in office in 2006, has previously said he wants to remain in office until his mandate expires in 2011.
Our correspondent says the president's referendum offer is being seen by the opposition as a desperate last roll of the dice and has spurred them on to intensify their demands that he step down. CRISIS TIMELINE Dec 2006: Marc Ravalomanana (r) re-elected as president31 Jan 2009: Opposition's Andry Rajoelina (l) says he is in charge3 Feb: Rajoelina sacked as mayor of Antananarivo; protests intensify8 Feb: Security forces fire on opposition rally leaving 28 dead11 March: Dissident troops oust army chief15 March: Ravalomanana proposes to hold referendum16 March: Rajoelina calls for president's arrest class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7946147.stm">Madagascar views on power struggle class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7944606.stm">Crisis isolates president class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7935682.stm">Q&A: Madagascar in crisis class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7943820.stm">Madagascar's 'young pretender'
About 500 of the president's supporters have gathered outside his residence - a whitewashed colonial-era chateau on the outskirts of the capital. But the opposition leader rejected the plebiscite plan and called for the president to be arrested.
Mr Ravalomanana, who was democratically elected for a second term in office in 2006, has previously said he wants to remain in office until his mandate expires in 2011. He said earlier: "The people are thirsty for change and that's why we won't have a referendum and will put our transitional government in place."
On Sunday he told an open-air service attended by 5,000 supporters outside the presidential palace: "Power belongs to the people and it's only fair to organise a referendum." Our correspondent says it is now up to the security forces to decide what happens next - but it is not an easy choice.
But Mr Rajoelina told national television on Monday: "The people have already expressed themselves. The resignation of Ravalomanana is the solution," according to Reuters. He adds they must decide whether to throw in their lot with the flashy young opposition leader or remain loyal to the embattled but democratically-elected president.
Col Andre Ndriarijaona - who last week led a mutiny that ousted the army chief - reportedly said a plebiscite would take too long and the country could not afford to wait. Mr Rajoelina says the president is a tyrant who misspends public money.
Parts of the military have stopped taking orders from Mr Ravalomanana's government but have not explicitly allied with Mr Rajoelina, correspondents say. But Mr Ravalomanana's supporters say his rival is a young troublemaker who has not offered any policy alternatives.
Mr Rajoelina says the president is a tyrant who misspends public money, while Mr Ravalomanana's supporters call his young rival a troublemaker.
Under President Ravalomanana, Madagascar's economy has opened up to foreign investment, particularly in the mining sector.Under President Ravalomanana, Madagascar's economy has opened up to foreign investment, particularly in the mining sector.
But 70% of the 20 million population still lives on less than $2 (£1.40) a day and correspondents say the opposition has tapped into popular frustration at the failure of this new wealth to trickle down.But 70% of the 20 million population still lives on less than $2 (£1.40) a day and correspondents say the opposition has tapped into popular frustration at the failure of this new wealth to trickle down.
Are you in Madagascar? What are your experiences? Send us your comments using the form below.Are you in Madagascar? What are your experiences? Send us your comments using the form below.
In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.
Name
 Name