Madagascar's largest protest yet

The opposition has promised daily protests

At least half a million supporters of Madagascar's opposition presidential candidate Marc Ravalomanana have held a street protest in the island's capital.

Mr Ravalomanana believes the count was fiddled

The massive demonstration on Monday followed a call last week for a general strike in protest at a court ruling that a run-off second round of voting must be held with the incumbent, Didier Ratsiraka.

His supporters have been holding daily protests for weeks in Antananarivo demanding that he be declared the outright winner of the December election.

But the High Constitutional Court ruled on Friday that neither man had won enough votes in the first round to be declared president.

The latest demonstration was by far the largest so far in support of Mr Ravolamana, the city's mayor, who has rejected the court ruling and promised daily protests.

Strike action

According to the AFP news agency, the general strike called by Mr Ravalomanana on Friday appeared to be widely observed, with both international and domestic flights suspended.

President Ratsiraka is seeking a fifth and final term

Employees of the state electricity and water company also took part in the demonstration and many shops were closed.

Many protesters carried banners reading: "A second round: never".

The court ruling backed the official vote count, which gave Mr Ravalomanana 46.21% of the vote and President Ratsiraka 40.89%, necessitating a second round.

But Mr Ravalomanana says he won more than 50% of the vote, accusing election authorities of falsifying results in favour of President Ratsiraka.

The second round of voting is scheduled to be held on 24 February.

Recount

Mr Ravalomanana has said he wants the court to collect all official documentation regarding the count and compare it with the findings of his own party.

He has also said he would be satisfied if Mr Ratsiraka was disqualified for foul play in the polls.

International monitors have backed opposition demands for a recount and a public hearing.

In 1991, street protests forced Mr Ratsiraka to introduce multi-party elections and he lost the first contest in 1993, before being re-elected three years later.