Curfew Imposed on Madagascar's Capital

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, February 28, 2002

Curfew Imposed on Madagascar's Capital

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The police of Madagascar's capital Tananarive imposed a curfew Wednesday on the city after conflicts flared out earlier in the day between supporters of incumbent President Didier Ratsiraka and opposition leader Marc Ravalomanana who declared himself president last Friday.

Ratsiraka will make a national statement Thursday afternoon, the police said.

Violence is now in the streets of the capital after weeks of peaceful protests and general strikes.

Supporters of Ratsiraka marched into a stronghold of Ravalomanan where thousands of his supporters defended.

Bricks and stones were hurled and a vehicle was overturned and set on fire before Ratsiraka supporters were chased away.

There has been no report of injury till now, said the police.

Pro-Ravalomanana supporters gathering around government ministries have smashed the doors and windows of various ministry buildings. They also set fire to a pro-Ratsiraka radio station on a hill overlooking the city.

Ravalomanana claimed that he won December's first round of presidential elections while Ratsiraka said neither got a majority. Ravalomanana rejected a second round ordered by the country's High Constitutional Court.

Talks brokered by the Organization of African Unity failed last Tuesday. Ratsiraka announced a state of emergency after Ravalomanana declared himself president. The military promised neutrality.

On Tuesday, Ravalomanana named Jacques Sylla, former foreign minister who served under former president Albert Zafy in the early 1990s, his prime minister to head a government parallel to the one serving Ratisiraka.

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