Army controls presidential palace in Madagascar

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com | 03-17-2009 20:03

Pro-opposition armed forces in Madagascar have seized a presidential palace in the capital Antananarivo. But President Marc Ravalomanana was not inside.

Soldiers stand guard outside the presidential palace in Antananarivo March 17, 2009. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

Ravalomanana has vowed to fight to the death if rebel soldiers try to drive him from power. The pressure is piling up on the president, as seven of his 24 ministers have resigned.

Tanks and scores of soldiers guarded the institutions on Tuesday.

Weeks of opposition protests and turmoil on the Indian Ocean island have killed more than 135 people and crippled tourism.

Antananativo Resident, said, "The country is like in war now, this has never happened in Madagascar, the population is very anxious."

34-year-old opposition leader Andry Rajoelina has been calling for Ravalomanana's resignation since the start of 2009, and now wants him arrested. He calls the president a dictator running Madagascar like a private firm.

Ravalomanana is holed up in another presidential palace on the outskirts of the capital, with supporters forming a human shield on roads outside. He has offered a referendum and says he will not leave by non-democratic means.

Some resident support the army's move.

Antananativo Resident, said, "There is a very big gap between the rich and the poor and the government of Ravalomanana is not doing enough about it, that's the reason why people are protesting and the army is taking its responsibility".

Rajoelina has been leading protests since the start of the year and has tapped into widespread public discontent with high levels of poverty.

The crisis appeared to be heading for a denouement on Monday. Tanks burst into the grounds of the capital's presidential palace and took the central bank.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei