Madagascar Rivals Fight for Third Largest Town

Xinhuanet 2002-04-13 00:24:56

ANTANANARIVO, April 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Military forces supporting Madagascar's two rivals went into fierce battle on Friday to seizecontrol of the country's third town Fianarantsoa. At least one soldier and three civilians were killed in the violence.

Troops supporting self-declared president Marc Ravalomanana tried to take control of the hill-top residence of the town's governor who backs incumbent President Didier Ratsiraka. The defending troops fired back.

Some 700 troops backing Ravalomanana arrived on Friday at Brickaville in the east of the country, trying to lift barricades set there by pro-Ratsiraka troops, which blocked the No.2 road connecting the capital of Antananarivo, the stronghold of Ravalomanana.

The Ravalomanana government imposed a three-day ultimatum for pro-Ratsiraka soldiers to lift the barricades and ordered all villagers around to retreat for security concern.

On his part, the Ratsiraka camp announced an emergency deployment of supplementary forces formed with military school students to reinforce defense.

The Madagascar crisis broke out in January when Ravalomanana and Ratsiraka started disputes over the results of the presidential votes last December. Ravalomanana declared himself winner and Ratsiraka insisted on a second round.

The African island nation has turned deeply divided since earlyFebruary, with two rival governments, two capitals and two armies.Last week, both claimed "ready" for war and the violence in Fianarantsoa marked the fierce battle.