ANTANANARIVO, Feb 20: Security forces in Madagascar retook four ministries from the opposition on Friday as President Marc Ravalomanana faced down his strongest challenge since winning re-election in 2006.Sporadic gunfire was heard around the ministries in Antananarivo at around 3:30am (0030 GMT) and armed guards were patrolling the buildings early on Friday, witnesses said.

Around 5,000 supporters of opposition leader Andry Rajoelina later gathered at the capital’s main square, a scene of several opposition demonstrations, awaiting their leaders, but dispersed peacefully afterwards.

Ravalomanana has been locked in an escalating power struggle with the opposition led by Rajoelina, the former mayor of Antananarivo who is seeking to oust him. Nearly 100 people have died in unrest since late January.

On Thursday, opposition supporters entered four ministries and installed themselves as “ministers” of a rival administration.

They freely entered the interior, security, education, and planning ministries which were deserted before shutting themselves in and changing the locks.

The symbolic takeover of the ministries was the most daring move yet by the opposition, which accuses the president of leading a dictatorship while his people starve.

Opposition protestors had been picketing near the ministries since Monday.

Ravalomanana on Thursday named a new interior minister after chairing a cabinet meeting to asses the political crisis.

Although his office said in a statement the incumbent was replaced for “health reasons”, it added that the move was to “ensure adequate security in the country”.

Ravalomanana’s government drew international condemnation after security forces opened fire on protestors on Feb 7, killing 28 of them.

In his first public appearance last week since the unrest erupted, Ravalomanana vowed to see outs his term which runs till the end of 2011.

The crisis on the Indian Ocean island erupted on Jan 26 when Rajoelina, who is just 34 years old, launched a wave of anti-government protests.

Ravalomanana was forced to rush back home and miss a regional summit in

South Africa as he confronted his gravest threat since re-election.—AFP