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| Madagascar president 'to resign' | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Madagascan President Marc Ravalomanana is to stand down, sources in the president's office have told the BBC. | |
| Mr Ravalomanana is to hand over power to the military a day after their capture by pro-opposition troops. | |
| He told thousands of supporters eight government ministers had quit, as power seemed to ebb away from the president. | He told thousands of supporters eight government ministers had quit, as power seemed to ebb away from the president. |
| Mr Ravalomanana - who is taking refuge in his residence on the outskirts of the capital Antananarivo - said earlier he was ready to fight to the death. | Mr Ravalomanana - who is taking refuge in his residence on the outskirts of the capital Antananarivo - said earlier he was ready to fight to the death. |
| There are unconfirmed reports that Mr Ravalomanana has resigned. | There are unconfirmed reports that Mr Ravalomanana has resigned. |
| Unnamed diplomats told AFP news agency that the beleaguered president had quit. | Unnamed diplomats told AFP news agency that the beleaguered president had quit. |
| Reuters news agency said it had received a text message from a presidential aide saying Mr Ravalomanana was to hand over power to the military. | Reuters news agency said it had received a text message from a presidential aide saying Mr Ravalomanana was to hand over power to the military. |
| The seven-week power struggle between the two men has spawned a military mutiny and violent protests that have left at least 100 people dead on the Indian Ocean island since January. | The seven-week power struggle between the two men has spawned a military mutiny and violent protests that have left at least 100 people dead on the Indian Ocean island since January. |
| The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Antananarivo says it may be only a matter of time until the troops march on Mr Ravalomanana's other residence, 15km (nine miles) from the city centre. | The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Antananarivo says it may be only a matter of time until the troops march on Mr Ravalomanana's other residence, 15km (nine miles) from the city centre. |
| He adds any attempt to seize the Iavoloha palace could be bloody if they meet resistance from the presidential guard and hundreds of Mr Ravalomanana's supporters, who have formed a human shield. | He adds any attempt to seize the Iavoloha palace could be bloody if they meet resistance from the presidential guard and hundreds of Mr Ravalomanana's supporters, who have formed a human shield. |
| But the head of the pro-opposition army faction has said he does not want any bloodletting and would try to avoid confrontation. | But the head of the pro-opposition army faction has said he does not want any bloodletting and would try to avoid confrontation. |
| Thousands of opposition supporters gathered in Antananarivo, chanting "president, president", reports Reuters news agency. | Thousands of opposition supporters gathered in Antananarivo, chanting "president, president", reports Reuters news agency. |
| "Many ministers have handed in their resignation to me," Mr Rajoelina told them. | "Many ministers have handed in their resignation to me," Mr Rajoelina told them. |
| The African Union has condemned the opposition's "attempted coup d'etat", but Mr Rajoelina says the president has no right to stay in power. | The African Union has condemned the opposition's "attempted coup d'etat", but Mr Rajoelina says the president has no right to stay in power. |
| Mr Ravalomanana was elected to a second term in office in 2006 and under him, Madagascar's economy has opened up to foreign investment, particularly in the mining sector. | Mr Ravalomanana was elected to a second term in office in 2006 and under him, 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 |