Madagascar-Mutiny: 3 Killed, 4 Injured
The army said it had launched the attack against the base of the 1st Regiment of intervention forces (RFI) to Ivato after a failed attempt to negotiate in the day and the shooting had ceased to 6:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. Mauritius), found an AFP journalist. To 9:30 p.m. (ET Mauritius) Chief of Staff, General Andre Ndriarijaona, told AFP that the army had taken control of the situation.
Links with the international airport of Antananarivo, suspended by security because of the proximity of the base mutinied, were restored. "The airport Ivato remains open," said an official statement Sunday evening, the first released since the cancellation of all flights Sunday.
The violence occurred when the two main protagonists of the Malagasy political crisis, former President Marc Ravalomanana, 62, reversed early 2009, and Andry Rajoelina, 38, and his opponent is chairman of the Transition Plan, must principle negotiate one on one Wednesday in the Seychelles. None of the rivals has made a statement Sunday.
The word attempted coup has not been delivered the day, unlike in November 2010 mutiny which took place almost at the same place, but on the Naval Air Ivato. The Armed Forces Minister, Andre Lucien Rakotoarimasy said it was "a mutiny fomented by some elements" and said "no knowledge of what they want."
The mutineers were identified as young recruits, according to a former commando regiment mutinied installed on the base. Their leader was a corporal mainty Koto, said "Corporal Black," the source said. The first shots from the base had sounded from 6:00 (7:00 in Mauritius), this Sunday, July 22.
The assault was given by the police and the army before night falls, at 16:00 (17:00 to Maurice) and after the death of an officer sent to negotiate, according to the Malagasy army. In a statement, the staff said it had launched the attack after the failure of negotiations. The Head of Communications of the armed forces, Colonel Rarasoa Ralaialomady, said the toll was three dead and four wounded.
