Dissident soldiers deployed tanks in Madagascar's capital today and said they would use them to fight any mercenaries hired in a power struggle that has killed 135 people on the Indian Ocean island.
The troops have broken away from the traditionally neutral security forces, saying they wanted to bring order to a country torn by a stand-off between President Marc Ravalomanana and opposition leader Andry Rajoelina.
In the worst civil unrest for years, it is unclear who controls the government or military and the crisis is crippling the country's $390 million-a-year tourism industry.
Many in the opposition fear the president will bring in mercenaries to defend his hold on power despite the mutineers denying that they are taking orders from Rajoelina.
"We moved tanks into Tana during the middle of the night. They're not on the streets but at a secret location," said Colonel Noel Rakotonandrasa, a spokesman for the mutineers, adding that it was just a precautionary tactic.
"They are to intercept any mercenaries who come here."
Rakotonandrasa did not say how many tanks had been sent into the city, calling it a "tactical secret," and he denied rumours they were deployed near the presidential palace.
"We have no intention of attacking the presidential palace," the spokesman said by telephone. "We have no intention of killing our brothers (in Ravalomanana's security detail)."
In a national radio address on Thursday, the president called on the security forces "to fulfil their responsibilities" and protect civilians.
A day earlier, the leader of the widening mutiny within the army named himself chief of staff, ousting the country's top general who had given the political rivals 72 hours - until Friday - to find a solution or face military intervention.
Rajoelina, 34, a former disc jockey, has been under UN protection since fleeing attempts to arrest him last week. He calls the president a dictator and has tapped into deep public resentment at Ravalomanana's failure to tackle poverty.
Critics call Rajoelina a maverick and troublemaker, and analysts are unsure whether he has over-played his hand or is riding on a popular wave that could carry him to power.
Rakotonandrasa denied taking orders from the opposition.
"We are there to get the country out of this crisis. The politicians have not fulfilled their responsibilities," he said.
"We do not have the direct backing of Rajoelina, we have the backing of the people. We are not taking orders from Rajoelina."
The political crisis has been running since the start of 2009. On Wednesday, the U.S. ambassador said on Wednesday that Madagascar was "on the verge of civil war."
European Union mission head Jean-Claude Boidin has told Reuters any "non-constitutional" solution to the political impasse - meaning a coup - would lead to a suspension of aid.
Reuters