After a period of violence, Madagascar’s opposition leader Andry Rajoelina proudly entered into the palace of fallen President Marc Ravalomanana on Monday after the army troops took the building. Rajoelina, former mayor of Antananarivo, said during a rally before thousands of supporters that “the struggle for democracy is almost complete.” On February 7, presidential guards killed 28 demonstrators. More than 100 people have died since the opposition began its campaign of collective protests against Ravalomanana at the end of January.
Meanwhile, local radio stations have announced that Ravalomanana has resigned after nearly two months of pressure from the opposition which accused him of misappropriation of public funds and violating the Constitution. Ravalomanana remains in his residence, located about 14 kilometers south of the capital, and protected by hundreds of presidential guards and a group of approximately a thousand supporters.
On Monday night, hundreds of soldiers backed by three tanks stormed the gates of the presidential palace in a show of force aimed at forcing Ravalomanana to resign. The army leadership had been taken over by mutineers who, despite initially declaring their neutrality, actually supported Rajoelina. The new Army chief, André Ndriarijaona, urged Ravalomanana to step down immediately while expelling him out of the presidential palace.
Ravalomanana earlier proposed a referendum that was promptly rejected by Rajoelina. The African Union described the recent events as a ‘coup,’ while the European Union said it will not recognize any government that comes to power through force.
Via BBC
