At least two die in stormy Madagascar protests

At least two die
in stormy Madagascar
protests

By Alain Iloniaina

ANTANANARIVO, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of angry anti-government protesters took to the streets of the Malagasy capital on Monday, burning the state-owned TV and radio station, and a security source said at least two people were killed.

The chaotic scenes seemed sure to dent the government's efforts to present the Indian Ocean island as a safe place for foreign investment, especially in the mining, tourism and oil sectors.

"We know of two deaths," the security source said, telling Reuters a policeman and a 14-year-old had been killed during the angry demonstrations calling for President Marc Ravalomanana's government to resign.

Local journalist Fano Rakopondrazaka said 11 people had died during the chaos on the streets. "I saw 11 dead men. They were looters crushed in a stampede," he told Reuters from the scene.

That could not be independently confirmed.

The violence broke out on the first day of strikes called by the opposition against Ravalomanana, who has been in power since 2002 and who opposition parties say is increasingly autocratic.

The strike call followed the government's closure of a private television station owned by the capital's maverick 34-year-old mayor and opposition leader, Andry Rajoelina.

Authorities shut the station last month after it broadcast remarks by the exiled former president, Didier Ratsiraka. The government deemed the remarks likely to incite civil disorder.

FOREIGN FIRMS

Major foreign companies involved in Madagascar include Rio Tinto (RIO.L) and Sherritt International (S.TO) which plan to extract nickel, cobalt, bauxite and ilmenite.

Gemstones are already a big industry and exploration companies are looking for oil, gold, coal, chromium, platinum and uranium.

The government has accused Rajoelina of stirring up a revolt and called for calm and order across the capital Antananarivo.

"All this is the response of a population facing economic difficulties and an absence of democracy," one demonstrator told Reuters as flames billowed out of a supermarket behind him. Continued...

reference: At least two die in stormy Madagascar protests
Reuters