Thousands protest in capital

SEVERAL thousand anti-government demonstrators marched on Thursday through Madagascar’s capital, several of them injured when police cracked down on the latest youth-led protest of the past two weeks.

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The fresh rally came after the Gen Z movement called for a general strike and rejected President Andry Rajoelina’s attempts to defuse the tensions rocking the Indian Ocean island.

The president has appointed a new prime minister and called for dialogue in a bid to quell the near-daily protests that erupted on September 25.

The unrest was sparked by anger over regular and lengthy power and water shortages and evolved into a broader anti-government movement.

Security forces charged at protesters with armoured vehicles, firing tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the initial crowds of about 1000 that gathered on Thursday near Lake Anosy and started marching towards the Ambohijatovo Gardens.

Street battles later broke out between the police and demonstrators, who responded by throwing stones.

Tear gas fired near a maternity ward forced nursing staff to move premature babies to the back of the building.

At least four people were injured by rubber bullets and two by projectiles from stun grenades, according to two local medical organisations.