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Call to arrest Madagascar leader Call to arrest Madagascar leader
(30 minutes 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 disc jockey, said he and his supporters would take the presidential palace in the capital Antananarivo on Monday.
Earlier two blasts, suspected to have been mortars, struck about 2km (1.2 miles) from the presidential palace. A BBC correspondent says previous opposition calls to oust the president have not been followed through.
Earlier two suspected mortar shells landed near the presidential palace.
A presidential spokesman said they were designed to intimidate his supporters.A presidential spokesman said they were designed to intimidate his supporters.
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.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.
The army, parts of which have stopped taking orders from Mr Ravalomanana's government but have not explicitly allied with Mr Rajoelina, reportedly denied Monday's pre-dawn explosions had anything to do with them.
Last roll of the dice?Last roll of the dice?
"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," the opposition leader told a rally of his supporters in the capital, reported Reuters new agency. The African Union is holding an emergency meeting to discuss what it calls the "worsening situation" in Madagascar.
Christine Razanamahasoa - the person appointed minister of justice as part of Mr Rajoelina's attempts to set up a parallel administration - had earlier told the rally she was ordering prosecutors to arrest the president. 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.
The army, parts of which have stopped taking orders from Mr Ravalomanana's government but have not explicitly allied with Mr Rajoelina, reportedly denied Monday's pre-dawn blasts had anything to do with them. 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.
CRISIS TIMELINE December 2006: Marc Ravalomanana returned as president for second term31 January 2009: Opposition leader Andry Rajoelina says he is in charge of the country after weeks of bloody protests3 February: Mr Rajoelina is sacked as mayor of Antananarivo11 March: Dissident troops oust army chief14 March: President Ravolamanana offers to hold referendum15 March: Mr Rajoelina rejects offer Crisis isolates presidentQ&A: Madagascar in crisisMadagascar's 'young pretender'CRISIS TIMELINE December 2006: Marc Ravalomanana returned as president for second term31 January 2009: Opposition leader Andry Rajoelina says he is in charge of the country after weeks of bloody protests3 February: Mr Rajoelina is sacked as mayor of Antananarivo11 March: Dissident troops oust army chief14 March: President Ravolamanana offers to hold referendum15 March: Mr Rajoelina rejects offer Crisis isolates presidentQ&A: Madagascar in crisisMadagascar's 'young pretender'
The African Union is due to hold an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss what it calls the "worsening situation" in Madagascar. The BBC's Jonah Fisher in the capital Antananarivo says Mr Rajoelina has made several previous threats against Mr Ravalomanana, most recently a four-hour deadline on Saturday.
The BBC's Jonah Fisher in the capital Antananarivo 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. 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.
"The referendum is already done. The people have already expressed themselves," Mr Rajoelina told national television on Monday, according to Reuters news agency. About 500 of the president's supporters have gathered outside his residence - a whitewashed colonial-era chateau on the outskirts of the capital.
"The resignation of Ravalomanana is the solution." 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.
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."
But Mr Rajoelina told national television on Monday: "The people have already expressed themselves. The resignation of Ravalomanana is the solution," according to Reuters.
And 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, while Mr Ravolamanana's supporters call his young rival a troublemaker.Mr Rajoelina says the president is a tyrant who misspends public money, while Mr Ravolamanana's supporters call his young rival a troublemaker.
On Saturday, Mr Rajoelina again told his rival to step down and declared himself president, appointing a "prime minister" and "transition government". Under President Ravalomanana, Madagascar's economy has opened up to foreign investment, particularly in the mining sector.
Appearing at an open-air Sunday service attended by 5,000 supporters outside the presidential palace, a defiant Mr Ravalomanana said: "I will never resign." 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.
"Power belongs to the people and it's only fair to organise a referendum," the president said, promising a "free and transparent" vote.
Colonel Andre Ndriarijaona - who last week led a mutiny that ousted the army chief - reportedly said a plebiscite would take too long and said the country could not afford to wait.
Several thousand opposition supporters attended another church service on Sunday in the central Antananarivo square that has become the focal point of anti-government demonstrations.
Democratically elected to a second term in office in 2006, Mr Ravalomanana has previously said he wants to remain in office until his mandate expires in 2011.
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