afrol News, 16 March - Madagascar's opposition has insisted that the government be dissolved calling the offer by President Marc Ravalomanana a buying time tactic as the people had already decided.

Opposition leader Andry Rajoelina was reported this morning to have told his suporters on the national television that he and his party were taking over the presidential palace. At the weekend, the young opposition leader declared himself an interim president and announced the appointment of his government.

President Ravalomanana had made an offer of a referendum, saying it would resolve the over a month violent standoff.

However, critics had said his offer was a delaying tactic to run down the high tempers from the anti-government protestors.

Reports have also said in the early hours of this morning, there were explosions near the presidential palace, but the army units, have distance themselves from such.

Madagascar has been under immense tensions since the beggining of this year, with the opposition demanding the president to step down, accusing him of running the country like his private business.

So far more than 100 people have died from violent clashes between the security forces and the protestors.

President Ravalomanana has insisted he is still the legitimate ruler of the Indian Ocean Island, saying he would serve until the end of his mandate in 2011, despite seeing some units of the army mutinying against him and refusing to take order anymore from government.

Efforts to mediate between the opposition and government have been frustrated by the refusal by Mr Rajoelina to rejoin talks saying the president was not taking earlier efforts seriously.

By staff writer

© afrol News

Related pages and feature

Current afrol News Top Stories