ANTANANARIVO, March 2: Residents of the Madagascan capital defied martial law on Saturday to welcome the new government of self-declared president Marc Ravalomanana, singing, dancing and giving thanks to God.

To most of the citizens of Antananarivo, opposition leader Ravalomanana, the city’s mayor, is now ruler of the vast island off southeast Africa. For them, the era of veteran President Didier Ratsiraka is over.

Ravalomanana, defying international condemnation of his unconstitutional bid for power, declared himself president of the republic on February 22. The move followed almost two months of mass protests in the capital, where his supporters say Ratsiraka rigged the results of December presidential elections.

Ratsiraka declared a state of martial law in the city on Thursday and named a new military governor, but so far the military have made no attempt to enforce it.

On Saturday, tens of thousands of people flocked to the capital’s central May 13 square to watch Jacques Sylla, the man Ravalomanana had named prime minister, introduce his new cabinet to the people. Ravalomanana did not attend the ceremony.

Dancing, clapping and waving in the air, some sitting and most standing, they listened to music blaring from loudspeakers.

“Are you with us or against us?” a group of local musicians sang from a stage decked out in the red, green and white of the Madagascar flag. “We’re with you!” the crowd shouted back.

Clergymen in white and red robes and nuns paraded down the street to the voices of an evangelical choir while residents clutched bibles and bowed their heads in prayer.

Ravalomanana, a Christian, has said throughout his campaign that he believes God is behind him.

“Ravalomanana is the right man at the right time. He is honest, because he is a strong Christian,” said Fred Ravanivoson.

The new governor, General Leon Claude Raveloarison, said on Saturday martial law had not been enforced because few people were aware of it, given that national radio and television have been off air this week.

The opposition shut down the transmitters of both Madagascar National Radio and Madagascar Television earlier in the week.

SUPPORT UNCLEAR: It was unclear how much support Ravalomanana enjoys in the countryside, traditionally a Ratsiraka stronghold, where 80 percent of Madagascans live.