Madagascan troops seize ministries from opposition

ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) - Madagascan security forces, firing in the air, seized back ministry buildings Friday from opposition groups who had occupied them hours before.

Supporters of the capital's former mayor and opposition head Andry Rajoelina, who had marched into four ministries on Thursday to install officials loyal to him, said the troops' action made talks with President Marc Ravalomanana impossible.

Rajoelina, who has called for Ravalomanana to relinquish power and is seeking to establish a parallel government, has waged a campaign of protests that has sparked violence killing 125 people in the last month.

At a rally in Antananarivo's central square, his former deputy mayor, Nihry Lanto Andriamahazo, ruled out further talks in front of thousands of anti-government protesters.

"Talks are no longer possible. What happened this morning does not justify dialogue," Andriamahazo said.

The intensifying power struggle on the world's fourth largest island has dented its image as a safe destination for foreign companies like Sherritt International and Rio Tinto, and scared off tourists.

Oil, minerals and tourism have fuelled Madagascar's economic growth in recent years.

Rajoelina, a former disc jockey turned firebrand politician, called on supporters to march through the city Saturday to an undisclosed location.

"We are going to march tomorrow and it is I who will lead you. Arm yourselves with a light meal and water because it is quite far," he told the crowd.

Tension has risen across the capital, with memories fresh of an anti-government march on the presidential palace earlier this month. The security forces opened fire and killed 28 people.

CIVIL SERVANTS CONFUSED

Friday morning, Ravalomanana's Internal Security Minister Desire Rasolofomanana called for civil servants to resume work, but armed police and military personnel set up roadblocks preventing access to the buildings.

Police said about 50 opposition supporters were arrested in overnight operations in the capital's administrative district.

Government workers said confusion was growing over who was in charge of the country.

"I do not understand anything any more. Yesterday Andry Rajoelina said he had taken control of certain ministries and now the internal security minister asks us to return to work. But the security forces won't let us through," said civil servant Hanitra Rakotomanga at a blockade.

The former mayor of Antananarivo calls Ravalomanana a dictator and has tapped into deep popular frustration over the government's failure to tackle poverty.

The 59-year-old president, a self-made millionaire who launched his business empire selling dairy products from a bicycle, denies abusing power and has pledged to fulfil his mandate, which expires in two years.

Analysts say a power-sharing unity government looks an increasingly likely option for Madagascar given the level of Rajoelina's popular support.

"I think that things have changed and that we are heading towards a coalition government," said Lydie Boka, chief Madagascar analyst at the Lille-based risk group StrategieCo.

Kenya went down that route last year after political violence, and Zimbabwe this month.

Church leaders trying to mediate said late Thursday both Ravalomanana and Rajoelina had agreed to meet for talks.