An attempt by a handful of dissident troops to take over the government of Madagascar appeared
to be foundering on Thursday, a day after a referendum meant to secure the power of
the current president.
A 20-strong group of officers announced on Wednesday
they had dissolved government institutions and set up a military council to run the
country, but by mid-afternoon on Thursday Prime Minister Camilla Vital says the government
is in complete control.
“Until now everything has been under control. Things
have been going normally,” he said.
“Those officers, I don’t know what got
into their head, but they … acted against the interests of the nation.”
The
unrest on Wednesday coincided with a referendum on a new draft constitution that would
lower the minimum age for a president to 35, allowing 36 year-old president Andry
Rajoelina to stay in office and run again in election scheduled for May 4, 2011.
The
former mayor of the capital came to power in a coup early last year, replacing the
unpopular Marc Ravalomanana.