Police teargas protesters in Madagascar

SECURITY forces in Madagascar's capital have used tear gas to scatter hundreds of protesters angered by the military-backed leader's rejection of international attempts to mediate a political resolution, the Associated Press (AP) reported yesterday

In protests marking an escalation of tensions after months of crisis, about a thousand people who gathered outside the parliament building on Tuesday were quickly dispersed. Col. Richard Ravalomanana, head of Antananarivo's police force, said two protesters were wounded and 13 arrested.

Rivals of Andry Rajoelina, a former disc jockey and mayor who seized power in March, had called a meeting at parliament of politicians designated as lawmakers under an agreement sponsored by international mediators to create a transitional coalition. The violence prevented the meeting from going ahead.