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| Pressure grows on Madagascar head | |
| (1 day later) | |
| Madagascar's opposition leader has said he has a mandate to lead a transitional government, hours after troops stormed one of the president's palaces. | Madagascar's opposition leader has said he has a mandate to lead a transitional government, hours after troops stormed one of the president's palaces. |
| Speaking to the BBC, Andry Rajoelina denied that the dramatic seizure of the palace amounted to a coup. | Speaking to the BBC, Andry Rajoelina denied that the dramatic seizure of the palace amounted to a coup. |
| But he said that the President Marc Ravalomanana no longer had the right or the power to run the country. | But he said that the President Marc Ravalomanana no longer had the right or the power to run the country. |
| President Ravalomanana, holed up in another palace, was quoted as saying he was prepared to die with his guards. | President Ravalomanana, holed up in another palace, was quoted as saying he was prepared to die with his guards. |
| The president had also discussed military support with the UN and southern African states, his spokesman told Reuters news agency. | The president had also discussed military support with the UN and southern African states, his spokesman told Reuters news agency. |
| The African Union condemned the "attempted coup d'etat" and called on Madagascar to respect its constitution. | |
| A 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.Supporters of the president manned roadblocks outside the capital | A 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.Supporters of the president manned roadblocks outside the capital |
| On Monday, up to 100 soldiers seized a palace in the centre of the capital, Antananarivo. | On Monday, up to 100 soldiers seized a palace 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. |
| The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Antananarivo says people in the capital are trying to conduct their business as usual - but many are clearly in shock after Monday's events. | |
| Earlier, Mr Rajoelina had called for the arrest of the president and won public backing from the self-declared head of the armed forces. | Earlier, Mr Rajoelina had called for the arrest of the president and won public backing from the self-declared head of the armed forces. |
| 'Power vacuum' | 'Power vacuum' |
| 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. | |
| 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 | |
| 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. |
| Mr Ravalomanana's supporters say his rival is a young troublemaker who has not offered any policy alternatives. | Mr Ravalomanana's supporters say his rival is a young troublemaker who has not offered any policy alternatives. |
| Speaking to the BBC's Newshour programme, Mr Rajoelina acknowledged that the president had been elected. | Speaking to the BBC's Newshour programme, Mr Rajoelina acknowledged that the president had been elected. |
| "But we elected him to respect the law and the constitution," he said. "He cannot do whatever he likes with the country. | "But we elected him to respect the law and the constitution," he said. "He cannot do whatever he likes with the country. |
| "So for us this president no longer has the right, nor the power any longer to run the country." | "So for us this president no longer has the right, nor the power any longer to run the country." |
| Mr Rajoelina said he wanted a transitional government that would organise elections in the next 18 to 24 months "at the very latest". | Mr Rajoelina said he wanted a transitional government that would organise elections in the next 18 to 24 months "at the very latest". |
| "I have the mandate of more than 60 political parties in Madagascar to lead this transition, so it isn't a coup at all," he said. | "I have the mandate of more than 60 political parties in Madagascar to lead this transition, so it isn't a coup at all," he said. |
| 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". |
| 'Against bloodletting' | 'Against bloodletting' |
| 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. |
| "The president plans to stay in Madagascar," Andry Ralijaona, a spokesman for Mr Ravalomanana, told Reuters. Q&A: Madagascar in crisisMadagascar's 'young pretender'What next for Madagascar? | "The president plans to stay in Madagascar," Andry Ralijaona, a spokesman for Mr Ravalomanana, told Reuters. Q&A: Madagascar in crisisMadagascar's 'young pretender'What next for Madagascar? |
| "He said this to the presidential guard, who told him he should be placed elsewhere, and he replied 'I will die with you if I have to,'" he said. | "He said this to the presidential guard, who told him he should be placed elsewhere, and he replied 'I will die with you if I have to,'" he said. |
| But Col Ndriarijaona said: "We are against any bloodletting, so we won't go there until we obtain guarantees on the presidential guard's intentions." | But Col Ndriarijaona said: "We are against any bloodletting, so we won't go there until we obtain guarantees on the presidential guard's intentions." |
| 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. |
| Col Ndriarijaona claimed it was now almost wholly behind the opposition. | Col Ndriarijaona claimed it was now almost wholly behind the opposition. |
| Earlier on Monday, the opposition rejected a proposal from the president to hold a referendum on whether he should complete his term. | Earlier on Monday, the opposition rejected a proposal from the president to hold a referendum on whether he should complete his term. |
| 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. |
| 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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