Police: 25,000-strong sit-in outside Madagascar ministry

MadagascarAntananarivo - Security forces in Madagascar's capital were engaged in a tense standoff Thursday for the fourth day running with tens of thousands of opposition supporters demanding the ousting of President Marc Ravalomanana's government.

The supporters of Andry Rajoelina, former mayor of the capital Antananarivo, made their way through the city towards government buildings to try to install an interim government of Rajoelina's choosing.

Around 400 heavily-armed police and soldiers were barring their access to the restricted zone around the ministries.

The crowd, which police estimated at 25,000-strong, then staged a sit-in as a small delegation of some of Rajoelina's appointed ministers negotiated with the police on trying to visit the ministries.

The city was on a knife-edge on this fourth day of demonstrations outside the seat of government. The opposition, which accuses the president of seven years of authoritarianism and mismanaging public funds, is demanding Ravalomanana and his government be replaced by an interim government headed by Rajoelina.

The demonstrations, which have cost over 100 lives and crippled industry, are into their fourth week.

In the worst episode of violence 12 days ago, guards shot dead at least 28 unarmed demonstrators outside the presidential palace.

Ravalomanana has refused to step down, saying he is the country's rightful leader since being re-elected to a second five-year term in
2006.

Several rounds of talks between delegations from both sides have taken place over the past two weeks. United Nations special envoy Haile Menkerios is leading the mediation. (dpa)

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