Firefighters found 25 charred bodies in a looted department store in Madagascar's capital today, a day after some of the worst anti-government violence in years on the Indian Ocean island.
The leader of the protests, Antananarivo's 34-year-old mayor and opposition leader Andry Rajoelina, called for peaceful demonstrations in the city's main square against president Marc Ravalomanana's government to resume tomorrow.
Yesterday tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets, burning the state-owned television and radio station when demonstrations turned violent.
A teenager and a policeman were killed in the disturbances, which revived memories of past political volatility on Madagascar, the world's fourth largest island.
The unrest will not help the government's efforts to present the nation as a tourist haven and sound destination for investment in mining and oil.
"I can confirm we have found 25 bodies. They are burnt beyond recognition and will be hard to identify," a senior fire officer told reporters.
Angry at the closure of his private TV station, Mr Rajoelina has denounced Mr Ravalomanana as a dictator.
"The protests will restart tomorrow at the 13th May Square," he said in a statement late today.
"There will be no meeting nor dialogue (with the president) until the military personnel who killed one of my supporters are held to account," said Mr Rajoelina.
Previously the mayor had agreed to hold talks with Ravalomanana in the presence of diplomats from countries who give financial support to Madagascar, and earlier today he had said he was calling off plans for another day of protests.
Relations between Mr Ravalomanana, a 59-year-old dairy tycoon in power since 2002, and Mr Rajoelina, deteriorated when authorities shut his Viva television station in December. The president accuses the mayor of trying to stir up a revolt.
Residents of the capital said gangs had ransacked shops linked to the president overnight.
Madagascar is going through an oil and minerals exploration boom. Major foreign companies investing in Madagascar include Rio Tinto and Sherritt International, which plan to extract nickel, bauxite, cobalt and Ilmenite.
Exploration companies are also looking for oil, gold, coal, chrome and uranium.
Madagascar has a history of volatile politics.
In December 2001, both Mr Ravalomanana and his predecessor Didier Ratsiraka claimed victory in presidential elections.
Eight months of political instability and sporadic violence followed before a court upheld Mr Ravalomanana's victory. Mr Ratsirika fled to France where he remains in exile.
"The president has little room for manoeuvre. It is he who must make concessions because he lacks popularity," said Jean-Eric Rakotoarisoa, law lecturer at the University of Antananarivo. "What we need is for this government to resign and a transitional government to be established."
Residents of Mr Antananarivo fear a return to the political deadlock and economic decline of the early 2000s.
"If there is no dialogue, this will descend into total chaos," said one opposition supporter, unwilling to give his name because of fears of reprisals.
Reuters