Madagascar Presidential Palace Seized by Army

Madagascar's opposition leader, Andry Rajoelina, has said he now has a mandate to lead a transitional government. Photo by flickr.com

Up to 100 soldiers have seized the Presidential Palace in the centre of the Madagascar capital, Antananarivo.

Explosions and gunfire erupted as tanks smashed the palace gates late Monday. The central bank was also reportedly taken.

Madagascar's opposition leader has said he now has a mandate to lead a transitional government. Speaking to the BBC, Andry Rajoelina denied that the dramatic seizure of the palace amounted to a coup.

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.

Earlier, Rajoelina had called for the arrest of the president and won public backing from the self-declared head of the armed forces.

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.

 

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