Tense stand-off in Madagascar

Bridges leading to the capital have been blown up

Tensions remain high in the city of Fianarantsoa in Madagascar, where supporters of self-proclaimed President Marc Ravalomanana are demanding the resignation of the local governor.

Mr Ravalomanana has been trying to install his own governors across the country since he rejected the results from presidential elections in December.

The current governor of Fianarantsoa province - who supports incumbent President Didier Ratsiraka - has refused to leave his offices.

Five of the country's six provincial governors remain loyal to Mr Ratsiraka.

Key town

On Monday, suspected supporters of Mr Ratsiraka blew up two bridges outside the city leading to the capital Antananarivo.

Ravalomanana's supporters are dismantling bridges too

Antananarivo - Mr Ravalomanana's stronghold - is being starved of fuel and other supplies by Mr Ratsiraka's supporters.

Mr Ravalomanana's supporters believe that control of Fianarantsoa province is vital in their efforts to lift the blockade on the capital.

Its port of Manakara, about 400 kilometres (250 miles) south of Antananarivo, is a key staging post.

No negotiations

On Tuesday, a man was killed in Fianarantsoa after supporters of Mr Ravalomanana accused him of shooting at them.

Mr Ravalomanana's supporters also began dismantling bridges, in an effort to prevent troops loyal to Mr Ratsiraka from entering the town.

Ravalomanana controls the capital but little else

The province's governor, Emilson, had been given until Sunday night to step down.

But although he admitted he had lost control of the city, he told the AFP news agency that he would "get it back in a few weeks".

"My departure is not negotiable. I'm not going," said Emilson.

Mr Ravalomanana's supporters have laid siege to the governmental mansion, where Emilson has barricaded himself, protected by a few gendarmes.

Running empty

As the tense stand-off in Fianarantsoa continued, vital supplies continued to dwindle in Antananarivo.

Tensions are high in Fianarantsoa

Fuel prices have shot up ten-fold, and the few public transport services remaining are packed.

Queues for sugar and salt have started to appear.

Mr Ravalomanana says he won last December's elections.

Mr Ratsiraka says neither candidate won outright and has called for a run-off.

The incumbent president has withdrawn from Antananarivo, and has based himself in the port city of Tamatave.