Security forces in Madagascar on Friday retook control of four ministries occupied the day before by supporters of opposition leader Andry Rajoelina, an AFP correspondent witnessed.
Personnel were on guard at the buildings early on Friday, after witnesses said sporadic warning shots were heard at around 3:30am local time in the area of the capital Antananarivo where the ministries are located.
President Marc Ravalomanana has been locked in an escalating power struggle with the opposition led by Rajoelina, the former mayor of Antananarivo who is seeking to oust him. Nearly 100 people have died in unrest since late January.
On Thursday, opposition supporters entered four ministries and installed ”ministers” of a rival administration.
They freely entered the interior, security, education, and planning ministries, installed themselves in the deserted buildings and then changed the locks.
The crisis on the Indian Ocean island erupted on January 26 when the 34-year-old sacked mayor called for anti-government protests. — Sapa-AFP