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| Madagascar president 'to resign' | Madagascar president 'to resign' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Madagascar's President Marc Ravalomanana is to stand down and hand power to the military, sources in the president's office have told the BBC. | Madagascar's President Marc Ravalomanana is to stand down and hand power to the military, sources in the president's office have told the BBC. |
| It comes hours after opposition leader Andry Rajoelina installed himself in the president's offices, seized on Monday by pro-opposition troops. | It comes hours after opposition leader Andry Rajoelina installed himself in the president's offices, seized on Monday by pro-opposition troops. |
| Mr Ravalomanana has reportedly left the Iavoloha palace on the fringes of the capital for an undisclosed location. | |
| The crisis on the Indian Ocean island has left 100 people dead since January. | The crisis on the Indian Ocean island has left 100 people dead since January. |
| "Apparently the president is handing over to the military and is going to make a declaration," an aide said in a text to the BBC. | "Apparently the president is handing over to the military and is going to make a declaration," an aide said in a text to the BBC. |
| A spokesman for Mr Ravalomanana told Reuters news agency power had been handed to the most senior figure in the military, navy admiral Hyppolite Ramaroson. | |
| "The order signed by Ravalomanana transfers the powers of the president and the prime minister to a military board," an unnamed diplomat told AFP news agency. | "The order signed by Ravalomanana transfers the powers of the president and the prime minister to a military board," an unnamed diplomat told AFP news agency. |
| The BBC's Jonah Fisher in the capital Antananarivo says that as the military backs Mr Rajoelina, power will effectively be handed over to the opposition leader. | The BBC's Jonah Fisher in the capital Antananarivo says that as the military backs Mr Rajoelina, power will effectively be handed over to the opposition leader. |
| The move marks a dramatic victory for Mr Rajoelina, who was sacked as mayor of the capital in February. | |
| The 34-year-old former disc jockey took up office at the presidential residence in central Antananarivo on Tuesday before emerging triumphantly to parade among thousands of supporters. | |
| He has announced there will be a new constitution and elections within 24 months. | |
| Our correspondent says the mood on the streets is one of relief as there had been fears of a bloody last stand if Mr Ravalomanana had continued to cling to power. | Our correspondent says the mood on the streets is one of relief as there had been fears of a bloody last stand if Mr Ravalomanana had continued to cling to power. |
| Earlier, a number of government ministers quit, as power ebbed away from the president. | |
| Mr Ravalomanana had said he was ready to fight to the death at the Iavoloha palace, about 15km (nine miles) from the city centre. | |
| On Monday, Mr Rajoelina, who has declared himself president, rejected Mr Ravalomanana's offer of a referendum to solve the crisis and called for his arrest. | On Monday, Mr Rajoelina, who has declared himself president, rejected Mr Ravalomanana's offer of a referendum to solve the crisis and called for his arrest. |
| Later that day, troops stormed the presidential residence in the centre of the capital and also seized the central bank. | Later that day, troops stormed the presidential residence in the centre of the capital and also seized the central bank. |
| Madagascar, with a population of about 20 million people, is one of the world's great sources of bio-diversity. | Madagascar, with a population of about 20 million people, is one of the world's great sources of bio-diversity. |
| Most of its mammals, half its birds, and most of its plants exist nowhere else on earth. | Most of its mammals, half its birds, and most of its plants exist nowhere else on earth. |
| Are you in Madagascar? What are your experiences? Send us your comments using the form below. | |
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