ANTANANARIVO – Madagascar’s opposition will stage more protests against President Marc Ravalomanana despite the killing of at least 28 anti-government demonstrators, its leader said yesterday.
Security forces patrolled the streets around the presidential palace where thousands of demonstrators clashed with riot police on Saturday.
The main hospital in Antananarivo, capital of the Indian Ocean island, was crowded with hundreds of wounded supporters of opposition leader Andry Rajoelina, who was sacked as the capital’s mayor last week. People filled the wards and corridors.
Mr Ravalomanana said the fight would continue until the “final victory” and called for those responsible for the shootings to be arrested.
Michelle Ratsivalaka, named by the opposition as mayor after Mr Rajoelina’s sacking, said the bodies of those killed would be taken to a gymnasium for a mass service. The government has also appointed a caretaker administration at city hall.
“Up to now we count 28 dead and 212 injured in the capital’s three main hospitals,” police commander Lala Rakotonirina said.
Some 128 have died in two weeks of civil unrest stoked by a power struggle between Mr Ravalomanana and Mr Rajoelina.
The president blamed the opposition for the deaths and described the events as scandalous and intolerable. United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon said those responsible for the violence should be brought to justice. Mr Ban urged all the parties to resolve their differences through peaceful and democratic means and said the UN was ready to help.
Mr Ravalomanana, who founded his dairy empire selling yoghurt off the back of a bicycle, denies opposition accusations that he is a dictator. He called for a return to order while his government extended a nightly curfew in the capital for another week.
Mr Rajoelina, a former DJ and a charismatic businessman, has filed a case with the two houses of parliament and the constitutional court to impeach Mr Ravalomanana. The court has said it cannot rule on the matter. – (Reuters)