ANTANANARIVO, Jan 28: At least half a million people gathered peacefully in Madagascar’s capital on Monday to support presidential candidate Marc Ravalomanana’s claim that he has been cheated of an outright victory in a December election.

Meanwhile, a general strike took hold, paralysing public services and grounding domestic and international flights.

In the country’s biggest demonstration since independence from France in 1960, blue-collar and white-collar workers braved blistering heat to march side by side down Independence Avenue, forming a tightly packed crowd there and in May 13 Square.

Many carried banners declaring: “A second round: never,” echoing Ravalomanana’s refusal to fight a run-off with the incumbent President Didier Ratsiraka, who first came to power in 1975 and who was chased out of office by similar protests in 1991.

Organisers said more than a million people took part in the demonstration. Antananarivo and its environs is home to about 1.2 million people.

Ravalomanana, flanked by numerous burly security guards kitted out with earpieces and binoculars, waited until all those in the crowd had marched past his podium before making a brief speech.

“Since Saturday’s call (for the general strike) I have realised that this movement is one of national unity,” he said.

“I ask you to continue this campaign and promise you that it will not last long. I hope that those who are still hesitating will join us tomorrow,” he said.

“I ask the army, the gendarmes and the police to reply to the call from a million Madagascans to defend them,” he said.

The general strike called by Ravalomanana, a flamboyant businessman and also the capital’s mayor, was well-followed Monday morning, especially in the public sector.

Administrative offices, ministries and big shops were closed. Airport and airline staff were among those striking. Flights were suspended until further notice.

Water and electricity utilities were running a minimum service, as their workers were among the demonstrators.

Banks and private sector factories were closed in the morning, several company heads said.—AFP