ANTANANARIVO, Feb 27: Authorities imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the Madagascar capital of Antananarivo on Wednesday after a day of clashes between supporters of opposition leader Marc Ravalomanana and backers of the president, officials said.

“The governor (of Anananarivo) and the chief of police have signed an order imposing a curfew from 9:00 pm until 5:30 am,” a presidential spokesman said following a special cabinet meeting.

“The curfew will be effective from this evening,” he said.

The spokesman said President Didier Ratsiraka would make a statement to the nation on Thursday.

The political crisis in Madagascar erupted into violence on Wednesday as supporters of opposition leader Marc Ravalomanana took over a government ministry and clashed with backers of the president.

Hospital officials said they treated at least 14 people after the two sides fought running street battles around the capital Antananarivo’s courthouse, including two with serious head injuries.

Witnesses said one man was “left for dead” after being severely beaten with clubs and stones by supporters of Ravalomanana, who unilaterally declared himself president last week.

The Indian Ocean island nation has been gripped by weeks of opposition protests and a crippling general strike since the first round of a presidential vote on Dec 16, which Ravalomanana claims to have won over incumbent President Didier Ratsiraka.—AFP