Antananarivo - The opposition in Madagascar returned to the streets Thursday following the breakdown in talks between President Marc Ravalomanana and opposition leader Andry Rajoelina on the island's month-long political crisis.

Rajoelina, the sacked mayor of the capital Antananarivo, announced Wednesday he was breaking off the talks after Ravalomanana ducked a meeting with him in order to meet with representatives of the military in two regional towns.

The two men had held three days of church-brokered talks since Saturday on their standoff, which has cost over 100 lives during four weeks of mass opposition demonstrations, but the rivals were said to have made little progress.

The chairman of the Christian Churches Council also said he would no longer act as facilitator after being repeatedly accused of being partisan.

Rajoelina, who accuses Ravalomanana of authoritarianism and misspending public funds, has used street protests to press his demands for an interim government that he proposes to lead.

Around 2,000 supporters of the 34-year-old politician on Thursday marched on the mayoral offices to try to force Ravalomanana's choice of Rajoelina's replacement from office, but they were dispersed by security forces with teargas and warning shots.

Last week, unarmed opposition supporters took over four ministry buildings but were later ejected by the army.

The tactics employed by the opposition to try to force Ravalomanana from office are inspired by the president's own months- long, campaign of demonstrations and strikes in 2002 that ultimately ousted dictator Didier Ratsiraka.

Ravalomanana is, however, refusing to step down, saying he is the country's rightful leader since being re-elected to a second five- year term in 2006. (dpa)