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| Madagascar soldiers seize palace | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Soldiers have seized one of the palaces of embattled Madagascar President Marc Ravalomanana in the centre of the capital Antananarivo. | Soldiers have seized one of the palaces of embattled Madagascar President Marc Ravalomanana in the centre of the capital Antananarivo. |
| Explosions and gunfire erupted as tanks smashed the palace gates. The central bank was also reportedly taken. | Explosions and gunfire erupted as tanks smashed the palace gates. The central bank was also reportedly taken. |
| Mr Ravalomanana was in another residence on the outskirts of the city. | Mr Ravalomanana was in another residence on the outskirts of the city. |
| Earlier opposition leader Andry Rajoelina called for the arrest of the president and won public backing from the armed forces' self-declared head. | Earlier opposition leader Andry Rajoelina called for the arrest of the president and won public backing from the armed forces' self-declared head. |
| The African Union has condemned the "attempted coup d'etat" and called on Madagascar to respect its constitution. Dozens of soldiers broke into the presidential building | |
| Mr Rajoelina told the BBC he wanted a transitional government that would organise elections in the next 18 to 24 months "at the very latest". | Mr Rajoelina told the BBC he wanted a transitional government that would organise elections in the next 18 to 24 months "at the very latest". |
| "It's not a military coup," he said. "But the life of the country doesn't stop. You can't have a vacuum of power." | "It's not a military coup," he said. "But the life of the country doesn't stop. You can't have a vacuum of power." |
| The fierce power struggle on the Indian Ocean island has triggered a military mutiny, looting and violent protests that have left at least 100 people dead since January. | The fierce power struggle on the Indian Ocean island has triggered a military mutiny, looting and violent protests that have left at least 100 people dead since January. |
| Gunfire lights sky | Gunfire lights sky |
| Col Andre Ndriarijaona, who last week said he had replaced the military chief of staff, told AFP news agency that soldiers had seized the presidency "to hasten Ravalomanana's departure". | Col Andre Ndriarijaona, who last week said he had replaced the military chief of staff, told AFP news agency that soldiers had seized the presidency "to hasten Ravalomanana's departure". |
| An unnamed colonel inside the captured building told Reuters: "The palace is occupied. This was our mission for today. For now, we have no more orders." 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: Army storms presidential office In pictures: Storming a palaceMalagasy views on standoffCrisis isolates president | An unnamed colonel inside the captured building told Reuters: "The palace is occupied. This was our mission for today. For now, we have no more orders." 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: Army storms presidential office In pictures: Storming a palaceMalagasy views on standoffCrisis isolates president |
| Mr Ravalomanana was hunkered down about 15km (nine miles) from the city centre at the Iavoloha palace, where hundreds of his supporters were camped out. | Mr Ravalomanana was hunkered down about 15km (nine miles) from the city centre at the Iavoloha palace, where hundreds of his supporters were camped out. |
| "We are against any bloodletting, so we won't go there until we obtain guarantees on the presidential guard's intentions," said Col Ndriarijaona. | "We are against any bloodletting, so we won't go there until we obtain guarantees on the presidential guard's intentions," said Col Ndriarijaona. |
| The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Antananarivo says round after round of gunfire - believed to be soldiers celebrating - lit up the night sky but the capital is now quiet, except for the howling of stray dogs. | The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Antananarivo says round after round of gunfire - believed to be soldiers celebrating - lit up the night sky but the capital is now quiet, except for the howling of stray dogs. |
| Our correspondent says it may now be a question of when, not if, the president finds himself under siege. | Our correspondent says it may now be a question of when, not if, the president finds himself under siege. |
| Col Ndriarijaona said the army was virtually all behind the opposition. | Col Ndriarijaona said the army was virtually all behind the opposition. |
| "We are there for the Malagasy people. If Andry Rajoelina can resolve the problem, we are behind him," he said. "I would say 99% of the forces are behind him." | "We are there for the Malagasy people. If Andry Rajoelina can resolve the problem, we are behind him," he said. "I would say 99% of the forces are behind him." |
| Earlier on Monday, the embattled president again proposed a referendum on whether he should complete his term, as a way of resolving the seven-week political crisis. | Earlier on Monday, the embattled president again proposed a referendum on whether he should complete his term, as a way of resolving the seven-week political crisis. |
| Mr Ravalomanana, who was 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. | Mr Ravalomanana, who was 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. |
| 'Thirsty for change' | 'Thirsty for change' |
| But the opposition leader rejected Mr Ravalomanana's plebiscite plan and called for the security forces to arrest him. Q&A: Madagascar in crisisMadagascar's 'young pretender'What next for Madagascar? | But the opposition leader rejected Mr Ravalomanana's plebiscite plan and called for the security forces to arrest him. Q&A: Madagascar in crisisMadagascar's 'young pretender'What next for Madagascar? |
| Mr Rajoelina said: "The people are thirsty for change and that's why we won't have a referendum and will put our transitional government in place." | Mr Rajoelina said: "The people are thirsty for change and that's why we won't have a referendum and will put our transitional government in place." |
| Our correspondent 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. | Our correspondent 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 opposition leader, a 34-year-old former disc jockey, says the president is a tyrant who misspends public money. | The opposition leader, a 34-year-old former disc jockey, says the president is a tyrant who misspends public money. |
| But Mr Ravalomanana's supporters say his rival is a young troublemaker who has not offered any policy alternatives. | But Mr Ravalomanana's supporters say his rival is a young troublemaker who has not offered any policy alternatives. |
| The army has traditionally remained neutral during periods of political volatility since independence from France in 1960. | The army has traditionally remained neutral during periods of political volatility since independence from France in 1960. |
| 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. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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