Madagascar: Minister Resigns Over Killings

9 February 2009
allAfrica.com

Madagascar's defence minister, Cecile Manorohanta, resigned on Monday after police reportedly killed at least 25 people when they fired upon a demonstration in the capital, Antananarivo, at the weekend.

The BBC reported that Manorohanta said she could not accept that the blood of her compatriots be spilled, and that her resignation was likely to be interpreted as an indication that the army was losing confidence in President Marc Ravalomanana.

Agence France-Presse quoted the minister as saying that "As a mother, I do not tolerate this violence. It was agreed at government level that the security forces were meant to protect the population and its property."

For an account of the weekend's violence, see AllAfrica's French site.

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