Protestors shot in rising violence

Madagascar's political crisis is becoming increasingly violent with the security forces reportedly shooting dead several protesters in the port town of Tamatave on Thursday.

The latest unrest comes a day after four people were killed in the worst bloodshed since the political crisis began in January.

The violence follows weeks of largely peaceful protests demanding the resignation of veteran ruler Didier Ratsiraka by supporters of self-declared president Marc Ravalomanana. They claim that the wealthy mayor of the capital Antananarivo won outright victory in elections in December.

"People are losing patience with the political stalemate in the country. The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) has come and gone and both men are silent. This silence is not good for the country and is only fueling tensions amongst the people," Madeleine Ramaholimihaso, who headed the consortium of civil society organisations that supervised the disputed presidential poll, told IRIN

Analysts have warned that the fresh outbreak of violence, although confined to the east of the island, is a lot more "sinister", feuled by ethnic tensions long simmering on the island state.

"People did not vote along ethnic lines in the December poll but instead for political and economic change. The recent violence is a lot more ominous and only the two men can bring a swift end to it," diplomatic sources in Antananarivo told IRIN.

Madagascan politics has been characterised by tensions between the Merina, or highland people, and the coastal population. Merina on more than one occassion have felt that elections in Madagascar favoured the coastal people to the detriment of the more densely-populated urban areas like the capital. Ratsiraka's supporters reportedly see him as the only person who could stand up to what they see as the domination of the country's economy by the Merina.

Up until this week demonstrations have been largely peaceful, although protestors have been involved in isolated clashes. Unconfirmed reports say eight people have so far died in the political unrest.

Tamatave has become the focal point for some of the worst clashes between pro-Ratsiraka and opposition party supporters over the past two weeks. Last week Ratsiraka declared it a rival capital after Ravolomanana took control of Antananarivo. It is believed that the embattled president chose his hometown since his support is strongest in its neighbouring provinces.

With the violence escalting, both men have yet to respond to OAU recommendations. After a week in Madagascar, the OAU urged the two protagonists to re-enter negotiations but until Thursday very little had emerged from either candidate.

Meanwhile, fuel shortages in the capital have reached a critical stage since the road between Tamatave and Antananarivo was blockaded last week preventing supplies from reaching the capital. Local newspapers have reported that feul prices on the black market have rocketed. It is thought to be a tactic by Ratsiraka to try to isolate the parallel government formed by Ravalomana.