ANTANANARIVO, Feb 9: Madagascar’s defence minister on Monday announced her resignation in protest at the police shooting of opposition supporters this weekend that left 28 dead and drew international condemnation.

As the power struggle between President Marc Ravalomanana and opposition leader Andry Rajoelina escalated, Cecile Manorohanta said she did not want to remain in a government that condoned the shooting of civilians.

“In this period of political crisis, I extend my condolences and moral support to the families who suffered losses,” Manorohanta said in a statement read on the private radio channel Antsive.

“As a mother, I do not tolerate this violence,” she said.

“It was agreed at government level that the security forces were meant to protect the population and its property.... After all that has happened, I decide as of now to no longer remain part of this government.” She was promptly replaced in the cabinet by the chief of military staff, Mamy Ranaivoniarivo, a defense ministry spokesman said.

On Saturday Rajoelina, who was sacked as mayor of Antananarivo by his rival, organised a rally attended by 20,000 people where he outlined the new structure of his opposition movement, launching a “transition authority” and naming his own prime minister.

Egged on by Rajoelina, 34, a few hundred demonstrators marched on a palace used by the Indian Ocean island’s president in a bid to make it the headquarters of the opposition’s parallel administration.

Security forces guarding the presidential building opened fire on the crowd, killing at least 28 people and wounding 212, in one of the nation’s deadliest political incidents in decades.—AFP