Looting breaks out targeting Indian merchants in town taken by Madagascar president

Yahoo 15.06.2002

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar - Three people were injured and shops were burned when looting broke out Saturday in a northwestern port town the day after it was taken by troops loyal to President Marc Ravalomanana, officials said.

Indian owned shops were targeted in the looting by Ravalomanana supporters in Mahanjanga, apparently because locals believe the town's Indian community supported Ravalomanana's rival, Didier Ratsiraka, in the political crisis that has split this island nation.

Ratsiraka led the island nation off Africa's southern coast before a six-month standoff began over December presidential election results that divided Madagascar between rival presidents, governments, and militaries.

Ratsiraka's role in the country, however, remains unclear since he flew to France Thursday without explanation.

The melee in Mahanjana began after Ravalomanana supporters attacked the home of a brother of one of Ratsiraka's ministers. It then spiraled into a looting spree, Ravalomanana officials said.

Three people were injured moderately, emergency services officials said.

Local residents described scenes of looters carrying away television sets and microwaves from burned out Indian shops.

Locals believe the significant Indian population in Mahanjana profited from the thriving black market trade that sprung up around a network of blockades run by Ratsiraka supporters in the area.

The blockades were meant to cut off fuel from the inland capital Antananarivo, Ravalomanana's stronghold.

The looting follows a week of significant territorial gains for Ravalomanana.

Ravalomanana was sworn in as president last month after a recount that Ratsiraka has rejected. Ratsiraka moved his government to the port city of Toamasina while Ravalomanana took control of Antananarivo.

Madagascar state television, controlled by Ravalomanana, had reported that Ratsiraka had gone into exile. In Paris, Ratsiraka denied that he had fled into exile and abandoned his fight for the presidency.

Nearly 40 people have died in political violence since the election, civil rights officials say.