Madagascar in election turmoil

The opposition has promised daily protests

Hundreds of thousands of opposition supporters in Madagascar have begun dispersing peacefully after marching on the state broadcaster in the capital, Antananarivo.

Reports said the massive demonstration ended after the government agreed to broadcast a statement by opposition presidential candidate Marc Ravalomanana later in the day.

Crisis timeline

16 Dec - Presidential election held

7 Jan - Opposition claim rigging, begin daily protests

16 Jan - Court orders vote recount

25 Jan - Result announced, run-off ordered

28 Jan - Opposition strike begins

More than 500,000 people had marched on the television station, where soldiers apparently sympathetic to the demonstrators deployed on the roof.

The protest was held on the second day of a general strike called by Mr Ravalomanana in protest at a court ruling on December's presidential elections.

Correspondents say that while support for Mr Ravalomanana is gathering momentum in the capital, the march on the television station was not an attempt to seize power.

Airtime demanded

The opposition leader, who is also the capital's mayor, insists he garnered enough votes in the December elections to be declared the outright winner.

Ravalomanana enjoys huge support in the capital

But the High Constitutional Court ruled last week that neither he nor incumbent President Didier Ratsiraka had won enough votes, and ordered a second round of voting.

Mr Ravalomanana's supporters managed to briefly silence state television transmissions, while a delegation held talks inside the building to demand more airtime for

Reports say a delegation member then told the crowd that they had succeed in getting more airtime for Mr Ravalomanana.

The crowd was ordered to disperse and gather again in the city centre on Wednesday.

Mr Ravalomanana says he won 51% of the vote in December's elections, enough for an outright victory.

He accuses President Ratsiraka of rigging the official tally, and has called for the dismissal of the incumbent for foul play.

Strike call

His supporters have been holding mostly peaceful daily protests ever since the polls.

Since the general strike was called, witnesses said banks, shops and businesses were shut and the main airport was at a standstill.

Parliament has gone into emergency session to discuss the latest developments.

President Ratsiraka is seeking a fifth and final term

Correspondents say it remains unclear whether opposition protests in the capital have been mirrored elsewhere in the country.

But President Ratsiraka, who has remained largely silent since the crisis erupted, still enjoys a high level of support in rural areas.

In a speech to demonstrators earlier in the day, Mr Ravalomanana urged members of the armed forces and police "to come and swell the ranks of the demonstrators".

"You know your responsibilities with regard to the protection of the population," he was quoted as saying by the Reuters news agency.

A senior army officer told the AFP news agency that many generals had been in touch with Mr Ravalomanana.

"Much of the army is with the people," he was quoted as saying.

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.