ANTANANARIVO, April 13, (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Five soldiers were killed and 18 others injured in fresh clashes, as forces loyal to Madagascar's two rival would-be presidents struggle for control of the key town of Fianarantsoa.
The violence broke out when troops backing the veteran president, Didier Ratsiraka, tried to storm the barricades of supporters of the self-declared president, Marc Ravalomanana.
Mr Ravalomanana's supporters are trying to replace the town's incumbent, pro-Ratsiraka governor, Emilson, with their own candidate.
The dead and injured are said to be from a convoy on its way to reinforce guards protecting Governor Emilson in his imposing colonial hill-top fortress.
Mr Ravalomanana says he won last December's elections outright but official results say that neither he nor incumbent President Didier Ratsiraka gained the 50% of the vote needed to be declared the winner.
The country is deeply divided with rival governments, two capitals and splits in the armed forces. The conflict has turned increasingly bloody in recent days, the scene is set for a political crisis to escalate into an all-out civil war.
A number of people, including a Canadian Roman Catholic monk, were reported dead on Friday, as both groups claimed to have killed several of their opponents.
Supporters of Mr Ratsiraka based in the port city of Tamatave have imposed an economic blockade on the capital, Antananarivo, which is controlled by Mr Ravalomanana.
